There are some desserts that are delicious, and then there are desserts that feel like pure comfort. Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding definitely belongs in the second category.

Imagine warm cinnamon rolls baked in a rich, creamy custard until the edges become golden and slightly crisp while the center stays soft, tender, and almost melt-in-your-mouth. Then, just before serving, the entire dessert is finished with a sweet vanilla glaze that slowly melts into every cinnamon-filled bite.

It is part cinnamon roll, part bread pudding, and completely irresistible.

Whether you are looking for an easy fall dessert, something special for a holiday gathering, or simply a warm treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee, Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding is a recipe worth keeping.

Why Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding Works So Well

Traditional bread pudding was created as a practical way to transform leftover bread into something delicious. Pieces of bread are soaked in a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, and spices before being baked.

Cinnamon rolls take that basic idea to another level.

Instead of ordinary bread, you begin with cinnamon rolls filled with cinnamon, sugar, and buttery flavor. As they absorb the custard, those flavors spread throughout the entire dessert.

The result has several wonderful textures at once.

The top becomes golden brown and slightly crisp. The middle remains soft and custardy. Small pockets of cinnamon and sugar appear throughout the dish, while the glaze adds another layer of sweetness.

It is the kind of dessert that tastes like you spent hours preparing it even though the recipe is surprisingly simple.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40–50 minutes
Servings: Approximately 8

Ingredients

For the bread pudding:

• 8 large baked cinnamon rolls, preferably a day old
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

For the vanilla glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

You can also use the icing that came with the cinnamon rolls if you want an even easier version.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Step 1: Prepare the Cinnamon Rolls

Cut the cinnamon rolls into approximately 1-inch pieces.

Slightly stale cinnamon rolls actually work particularly well because they can absorb more of the custard without immediately falling apart.

If your cinnamon rolls are very fresh, cut them into pieces and leave them uncovered for a little while before preparing the dessert.

Step 2: Prepare Your Baking Dish

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.

Spread the cinnamon roll pieces evenly throughout the baking dish.

Try not to pack them too tightly. Leaving a little space allows the custard mixture to move between the pieces.

Step 3: Make the Custard

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and melted butter.

Continue whisking until everything is thoroughly combined.

The cinnamon and nutmeg give the custard its warm flavor, while the brown sugar adds a slight caramel-like richness.

Step 4: Pour the Custard Over the Cinnamon Rolls

Slowly pour the custard mixture over the cinnamon roll pieces.

Make sure you distribute it evenly throughout the baking dish.

Gently press the cinnamon roll pieces into the liquid using the back of a spoon or spatula.

Allow everything to sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before baking.

This step is important because it gives the cinnamon rolls time to absorb the custard.

Step 5: Bake

Place the baking dish into the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 40 to 50 minutes.

The top should become golden brown, while the center should be set but still soft.

Avoid overbaking it. Bread pudding is best when the center remains moist and tender rather than becoming dry.

Step 6: Make the Vanilla Glaze

While the bread pudding cools slightly, prepare the glaze.

Combine powdered sugar, milk or heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.

Whisk until smooth.

If the glaze is too thick, add another small splash of milk. If it becomes too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

Step 7: Glaze and Serve

Allow the bread pudding to cool for approximately 10 minutes.

Drizzle the vanilla glaze generously across the top.

Serve it while it is still warm.

What Does Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding Taste Like?

If you already love cinnamon rolls, many of the flavors will immediately feel familiar.

You get plenty of cinnamon, vanilla, butter, and brown sugar, but the custard transforms the cinnamon rolls into something much richer.

The outside pieces develop slightly caramelized edges while the pieces underneath remain wonderfully soft.

Then there is the glaze.

As the glaze hits the warm bread pudding, some remains on top while some melts into the dessert.

Every spoonful can contain a slightly different combination of textures.

That is part of what makes bread pudding so satisfying.

Make It Even Better With Toppings

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding is delicious on its own, but toppings can turn it into an impressive restaurant-style dessert.

Try serving it with:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce
• Chopped pecans
• Chopped walnuts
• Maple syrup
• Powdered sugar
• Fresh berries
• Sliced bananas
• Warm apple topping

One of my favorite combinations for fall would be warm Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

The cold ice cream begins melting into the warm pudding, creating an incredible combination of hot, cold, creamy, and sweet.

Add Apples for a Fall Version

If you want to make this dessert even more appropriate for autumn, add apples.

Peel and dice one or two apples and sauté them briefly with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Then scatter the apples between the cinnamon roll pieces before adding the custard.

Now you have something close to an Apple Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding.

A caramel drizzle over the finished dessert makes this variation even better.

Try a Pecan Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Pecans are another excellent addition.

Add approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped pecans before baking.

They provide a crunchy texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft bread pudding.

For an even richer dessert, combine pecans with caramel sauce.

Cinnamon, caramel, and toasted pecans are difficult to beat.

Make It With Raisins

Raisins are traditional in many bread pudding recipes.

If you enjoy them, sprinkle approximately 1/2 cup of raisins throughout the cinnamon rolls before pouring in the custard.

For plumper raisins, soak them briefly in warm water before adding them.

Drain them thoroughly first.

Add Chocolate Chips

Chocolate lovers can add approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Semi-sweet chocolate works particularly well because it provides enough chocolate flavor without making an already sweet dessert overwhelmingly sugary.

White chocolate chips are another option.

The Secret to Great Bread Pudding

The biggest secret is giving the bread enough time to absorb the custard.

If you pour the custard over your cinnamon rolls and immediately put the dish into the oven, some pieces may remain relatively dry.

Allowing the mixture to rest before baking gives the custard time to work its way into the cinnamon rolls.

Another important factor is avoiding overbaking.

Bread pudding should not have the texture of cake.

You want it to remain moist and custardy in the center.

Can You Make Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding Ahead of Time?

Yes.

In fact, this can be a convenient dessert for holidays because much of the preparation can be completed ahead of time.

Assemble the cinnamon roll pieces and custard in your baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate it.

When you are ready to bake, remove the dish from the refrigerator while the oven preheats.

Because the ingredients will be cold, you may need to add several minutes to the baking time.

Wait until after baking to add the glaze.

How to Store Leftovers

Cover leftover Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding tightly and refrigerate it.

For best quality, enjoy it within approximately 3 to 4 days.

You can reheat individual portions in the microwave for a quick dessert.

For larger portions, place them in an oven-safe dish and warm them gently in the oven.

If the pudding seems slightly dry after refrigeration, adding a little extra glaze, caramel sauce, or cream can restore some moisture.

Is Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding Only a Dessert?

Not necessarily.

This recipe sits somewhere between dessert and an extremely indulgent breakfast.

That makes it especially good for brunch.

Imagine serving a large pan alongside coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and other breakfast favorites.

It could also work beautifully for Christmas morning, Thanksgiving weekend, Easter brunch, birthdays, family gatherings, or a relaxed Sunday breakfast.

Just be warned: once people know it is available, you may have trouble convincing them to wait until dessert.

Perfect for Fall and Winter

Some desserts seem designed for warm weather.

Bread pudding is the opposite.

It is at its best when temperatures begin dropping and you want something warm from the oven.

Cinnamon makes the kitchen smell incredible while the dessert bakes.

That aroma alone creates the feeling of fall and winter.

Add coffee, hot chocolate, or warm apple cider, and you have the perfect dessert for a chilly evening.

An Easy Holiday Dessert

Holiday desserts do not always need complicated decorations or dozens of ingredients.

Sometimes the dishes people remember most are the simplest ones.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding works particularly well for Thanksgiving and Christmas because you can prepare a large amount in a single baking dish.

Instead of individually decorating cakes or cupcakes, simply bake the pudding, drizzle it with glaze, and place the entire dish on the table.

Guests can serve themselves.

You can even create a small topping station with caramel sauce, whipped cream, pecans, vanilla ice cream, and powdered sugar.

Everyone gets to customize their dessert.

Don’t Throw Away Leftover Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is also a great reminder that leftovers can sometimes become something even better.

If you bought too many cinnamon rolls for breakfast and they are beginning to dry out, don’t immediately throw them away.

Turn them into dessert.

Bread pudding has always been about taking something simple and transforming it.

Cinnamon rolls happen to make that transformation especially delicious.

Dessert of the Day

Today’s Dessert of the Day: Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding combines two classic comfort foods into one warm and satisfying dessert.

You get the cinnamon-sugar goodness of a cinnamon roll with the rich, creamy texture of traditional bread pudding.

Best of all, you can customize it.

Add apples for fall. Add pecans for crunch. Add chocolate chips for extra sweetness. Cover it with caramel. Serve it with ice cream. Or keep everything simple and finish it with vanilla glaze.

There really isn’t a wrong way to enjoy it.

Sometimes dessert doesn’t have to be fancy.

It just has to be warm, comforting, and delicious.

And a pan of Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding fresh from the oven certainly checks all three boxes.

Would you eat your Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding plain with vanilla glaze, or would you add vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce?