Hot Dog Bun Bread Pudding

Hot dog bun bread pudding is the perfect breakfast and a great use for leftover hot dog buns! Drizzled with syrup, this soft and fluffy bread pudding tastes so amazing that you won’t stop at just one helping.

What is hot dog bun bread pudding?

If you love bread pudding as much as I do, then making it with hot dog buns will blow you away. It brings in great taste and texture.

I know, I know. Every food blog raves about elegant brioche and fluffy challah bread as the best choices for bread pudding. And they surely are good, don’t get me wrong.

But when I found myself recently with a bunch of leftover hot dog buns, I thought, why not make bread pudding with hot dog buns. And oh my, was it delicious!

The humble hot dog rolls really add to bread pudding by soaking in a flavorful custard. And when you add syrup or chocolate sauce on top, it just takes it to another level of deliciousness.

This will be one breakfast and dessert that your entire family raves about! Plus, it’s pretty easy and quick to whip up. A win-win, I’d say!

If you love bread pudding, you’ve come to the right place! We also have condensed milk bread pudding, Nutella pretzel bread pudding, and this fluffy hamburger bun bread pudding.

Why you’ll love bread pudding with hot dog buns

• Unbelievable flavor + texture: Every bite is filled with soft fluffy bread, sweet custard, and a slightly crisp exterior. Bread pudding heaven!
• Avoid food waste: This easy bread pudding recipe makes the most of those leftover, stale hot dog buns that would otherwise end up in the bin.
• Pantry staples: The other ingredients are basic pantry/refrigerator ingredients, probably already waiting in your kitchen.
• Overnight option: You can assemble bread pudding with rolls the night before and refrigerate it for the next day. The bread pudding actually benefits from being made in advance because the hamburger buns have more time to absorb the custardy goodness.

Ingredients

Hot dog bun bread pudding is simple, easy, and only requires a few ingredients. Plus, the dish tastes insanely delicious… It is so good that you wonder why you’d never tried it before! See the printable recipe card at the end of the page for exact measurements.

• Hot dog buns: You’ll need 8 hot dog buns. You can use fresh rolls, but day-old, slightly stale and dry buns are best.
• Milk: I like whole milk. Of course, you can substitute with half-and-half, coffee creamer, or dairy-free options such as almond, oat, or soy milk – whatever you have on hand.
• Eggs make the base of the custard. Ensure they are at room temperature.
• Sugar: A little granulated sugar adds sweetness to the bread pudding.
• Butter: I prefer salted butter to cut through the sweetness. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
• Spices: Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon intensify the flavor and add a warm, homey aroma. Feel free to sub in other baking extracts and spices if you’d prefer.

Hot dog bun filling (optional)

You could just stop with the ingredients listed above. However, I like to take this bread pudding recipe a step further and make it even more delicious by stuffing the buns with a filling. The filling adds another flavor component and keeps the hot dog buns moist on the inside.

You need approximately 1 cup of filling. The bread pudding you see in the photos is stuffed with apricot jam. Here are a few tasty ideas to try:

• Nutella
• Chocolate spread (e.g., white, milk, or semisweet)
• Caramel spread or dulce de leche
• Jams and preserves (such as strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, apricot)
• Orange marmalade
• Peanut butter and other nut spreads
• Pie filling (e.g., cherry, blueberry, peach)
• Lemon curd or other fruit curds

How to make hot dog bun bread pudding

I love quick, easy, and delicious dishes, and this hot dog bun bread pudding is no exception! Cook it up for dessert, breakfast, or brunch, and it will fly off your table!

Step 1: Prep the oven and casserole dish

Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4. Generously grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter. Set aside.

Step 2: Slice and fill buns

Cut each hot dog bun lengthwise in half. Optionally, smear the bottom half of each bun with jam, Nutella, peanut butter, or caramel spread. Then top with the top half. Arrange the buns in the prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Warm milk and butter

Add the milk and butter into a saucepan and warm over medium heat until the butter has melted. Take off the heat and set aside.

Step 4: Mix custard

Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until the mixture is creamy and well mixed. Pour in the warm milk and stir slowly until evenly combined.

Step 5: Bake

Pour the custard mixture over the hot dog buns in the baking dish. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the hot dog rolls look golden brown and the custard has set.

Step 6: Serve

Serve the bread pudding warm and pass with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and vanilla or chocolate sauce. Enjoy!

Tips for success

I have a few secrets up my sleeve when it comes to hot dog bun bread pudding. Follow my tips and tricks, and yours will turn out absolutely scrumptious!

• Slice the hot dog buns so they can soak up the custard mixture. Do not skip this step! Otherwise, you’d might end up with buns that are partly dry and partly soggy. I even like to prick my buns with a fork so they absorb more custard.
• Soak the buns for 20 minutes at the very minimum. Hot dog buns need some time to absorb the liquids, so don’t rush it. Luckily, this is hands-off time!
• Watch the baking time. Every oven heats and bakes differently.

Variations & substitutions

If you are like me, you want to make this hot dog bun bread pudding all the time. But my family likes it when I change things up. Here are a few ideas on how you can customize this hot dog bun dessert to keep it new and fresh every time!

• Buns: This hot dog bun bread pudding recipe is suitable for all kinds of buns and rolls. You can prepare it with leftover hamburger buns, dinner rolls, or English muffins.
• Sugar: As written, the recipe calls for white sugar. But if you’d like a caramel-like flavor, try making the custard filling with brown sugar. Use the same amount as granulated sugar.
• Dried fruit: For a bit of extra sweetness, add dried fruit. Raisins are a bread pudding classic, but cranberries or chopped, dried apricots will also work.
• Chocolate: If you’d like to switch it up, make chocolate hot dog bun bread pudding! Stuff the buns with Nutella or chocolate spread and add 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips to the egg custard.
• Nuts: If you’re a fan of nuts, sprinkle the baked bread pudding with 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds. You can also toast the nuts in a 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 oven for 5 minutes to bring out even more flavor.

Topping ideas & serving suggestions

Hot dog bun bread pudding makes a great dessert or even breakfast! Make it even better by putting the right toppings with it. Here are some ideas:

• Powdered sugar: Dust the bread pudding with powdered sugar right before serving.
• Butter + cinnamon: Brush with melted butter and sprinkle on cinnamon sugar.
• Sauce: Serve the pudding with vanilla sauce, caramel sauce, or chocolate sauce.
• Fruit: Fresh fruit is the perfect complement for bread pudding and adds a pop of color.
• Cream + ice cream: A dollop of cream or a scoop of ice cream turn this simple bread pudding with hot dog buns into a fancy dessert.
• Savory: To turn this bread pudding into a hearty breakfast, serve it with scrambled eggs and bacon on the side. And don’t forget a hefty drizzle of maple syrup!

Storage instructions

How to store hot dog bun bread pudding

Once the bread pudding has cooled, store it in an airtight container in your fridge. It will be good for 2 to 3 days.

How do you reheat hot dog bun bread pudding?

I would reheat the bread pudding in the microwave or in your oven at 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through. Be sure to cover the bread pudding with a damp paper towel (microwave) or foil (oven), so it doesn’t dry out

Can you freeze hot dog bun bread pudding?

Yes, the great thing about this dinner roll bread pudding is that you can prepare and freeze it for later.

• Freeze: Once the bread pudding has cooled, wrap the baking dish in several layers of plastic wrap. You can also freeze individual portions, simply place them in airtight containers. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: To defrost your bread pudding, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for a few hours. Then follow the reheating instructions above.

Making hot dog bun bread pudding ahead of time

This hot dug bun bread pudding recipe can be made ahead of time. I don’t recommend baking the bread pudding in advance, but you can stuff and soak the buns, covered and refrigerated, for a day in advance.

I love this overnight hot dog bun casserole for busy holiday mornings! That way, you can pull out a quick dessert or breakfast treat. All you have to do is grab the soaked hot dog buns and bake as directed.

More recipes for stale bread

Never waste stale bread with these tasty recipes! From sweet to savory, you have so many recipes for leftover hot dog buns. Let’s turn them into a delicious meal!

• Hot Dog Bun French Toast
• Hamburger Bun Garlic Bread
• English Muffins French Toast
• Hamburger Bun French Toast
• Hot Dog Bun French Toast