Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding: Your Ultimate Healthy Morning Solution

Start your day perfectly with our Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding! This deliciously nutritious dish is thoughtfully crafted to provide a powerhouse of essential nutrients, ensuring you kickstart your morning on the right foot. Packed with protein-rich eggs, fiber-filled whole wheat bread, wholesome nuts, and naturally sweet dried fruits, this bread pudding offers a balanced and satisfying meal. It’s designed not just for taste, but also for convenience, making healthy eating effortless even on the busiest of mornings. Say goodbye to rushed, unsatisfying breakfasts and embrace a delightful, nutritious start every single day.

This post is sponsored by Egg Farmers of Canada. Full disclosure is at the bottom of the article.

The Morning Rush: Why So Many Skip Breakfast (and How to Fix It!)

Do you find yourself skipping breakfast more often than not? It’s a question I often pose, and the responses are typically divided: roughly half commit to a morning meal, while the other half dash out the door on an empty stomach. I proudly belong to “Team Breakfast”—my day simply doesn’t function optimally without it. This passion often leads me to playfully (but persistently) remind my breakfast-skipping friends about the immense benefits of fueling their bodies with something healthy and substantial early in the day.

When someone tells me they forgo breakfast, my immediate follow-up is always: “Why?” A common theme emerges from their answers: a perceived lack of time. Between the frantic pace of getting ready for work, orchestrating the kids for school, and navigating daily commutes, early mornings transform into a whirlwind of activities, leaving little to no spare moments for a thoughtful meal. It’s for these friends, and for anyone facing similar time constraints, that I’ve dedicated myself to conceptualizing and developing ingenious make-ahead breakfast solutions. These recipes are designed to be quickly assembled, grabbed on the fly, and consumed wherever your day takes you. The ultimate bonus? Many can be prepared in large batches and then portioned and frozen, liberating you from breakfast worries for days, or even weeks at a time.

Eggs: The Versatile Powerhouse for On-the-Go Mornings

When it comes to my favorite make-ahead breakfast ingredient, eggs reign supreme. Their nutritional profile is outstanding, boasting high levels of quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals. Beyond their health benefits, eggs are incredibly versatile, adaptable to countless recipes, making them a healthy and effective way to power up for hours. I frequently incorporate them into savory options like breakfast sandwiches, tacos, and burritos. However, my latest culinary creation takes eggs in a delightfully different direction, crafting a unique dish that will surely appeal to those who gravitate towards a sweeter start to their day.

Traditionally, bread pudding is a rich, indulgent dessert, often loaded with heavy cream, refined sugar, and white or brioche bread, and typically served drenched in crème anglaise or sweet syrups. But as I pondered innovative ways to feature eggs in a morning context, an exciting idea sparked: a healthier, breakfast-friendly rendition of bread pudding could be the ultimate grab-and-go option. My Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding is a testament to this vision. It ingeniously combines protein-rich eggs, fiber-filled whole wheat bread for sustained energy, and a medley of healthy nuts and dried fruits, providing just the perfect, natural touch of sweetness. This carefully balanced recipe delivers everything you need for a truly satisfying and nourishing start to your day.

Celebrate World Egg Day with a Delicious & Healthy Creation

Did you know that October 12, 2018, marks World Egg Day? This global celebration of the incredible egg takes place every year on the second Friday of October. Here in Canada, the egg industry is built upon a foundation of family-run farms, where producers take immense pride in delivering high-quality, fresh eggs to tables across the nation. These dedicated farmers adhere to stringent national animal care and food-safety programs, guaranteeing the well-being of their hens and ensuring that Canadian eggs are consistently clean, safe, and fresh. What’s more, every single province and territory in Canada contributes to egg production, meaning that wherever you purchase eggs within the country, you’re supporting local producers. For all these compelling reasons—and, of course, because they are undeniably delicious and incredibly versatile—eggs are my undisputed protein of choice for any meal or dish, from hearty breakfasts to elegant desserts.

Why not join the global celebration of World Egg Day over the upcoming weekend by preparing and savoring your favorite egg-centric dishes? This Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding could be the perfect starting point! I have a strong feeling that your family will eagerly vie for every last piece of this delightful treat, so much so that you might consider preparing a double batch right from the start. This ensures you’ll have ample leftovers to enjoy throughout the week, making your mornings even easier. Don’t forget to share your delectable creations and cherished egg-based recipes using the official event hashtag #WorldEggDay. Let’s spread the love for eggs!

Curious to discover more about Canadian eggs? You can access a wealth of nutritional information, practical cooking tips, and an array of additional mouthwatering recipes by visiting Egg Farmers of Canada’s comprehensive website, Get Cracking. For daily inspiration and updates, be sure to follow @eggsoeufs on Twitter and Instagram, and give a like to Get Cracking on Facebook.

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Essential Tips for Crafting the Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast Bread Pudding

Achieving the best results with this Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding is simple with a few key strategies. These tips ensure your pudding is perfectly textured, flavorful, and truly lives up to its convenient “make-ahead” promise.

• Plan Ahead for Maximum Flavor and Convenience: This breakfast bread pudding is surprisingly quick to assemble, but the magic truly happens during its resting period. The most crucial step is to plan your preparation so the dish can rest overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the bread cubes ample time to fully absorb the rich egg mixture, resulting in an incredibly moist and flavorful pudding. Beyond the resting time, consider making a large batch over the weekend. Once cooled, you can refrigerate half of the portions in an airtight container, where they will stay fresh and delicious for up to five days. Freeze the remaining portions for later enjoyment; they’ll keep well for up to a month, providing a convenient and healthy breakfast option whenever you need it.

• Embrace the “Soak Ahead” Secret for Optimal Texture: After generously pouring the spiced egg mixture over your bread cubes and delightful granola garnishes, it is absolutely essential that this breakfast bread pudding is allowed to sit for several hours, and ideally, overnight. This prolonged soaking period is the secret to achieving the perfect texture. During this time, the bread cubes slowly and completely absorb the liquid, becoming wonderfully tender and infused with flavor. Skipping this step would result in a drier, less cohesive pudding. A proper soak ensures that every bite is rich, moist, and utterly enjoyable – far superior to a rushed preparation.

• Garnish Generously—or Enjoy Its Simple Perfection: This breakfast bread pudding is thoughtfully sweetened with a touch of pure maple syrup and the natural sugars from dried fruits, making it perfectly delicious and satisfying just as it is. It’s designed for convenience, meaning you can easily grab a square and head straight out the door. If you have the luxury of a few extra moments to sit and savor, feel free to enhance your experience. Add an extra drizzle of maple syrup over a warm square for an added burst of sweetness, or slather it with your favorite nut butter—such as almond or peanut butter—to give it an additional, welcome protein boost. Fresh berries or a dollop of Greek yogurt also make fantastic, vibrant additions!

• Reheat Thoughtfully for the Best Experience: To truly “wake up” the delightful flavors and textures of your refrigerated bread pudding, a quick reheat is highly recommended. For those in a hurry, simply place a square on a paper towel or in a microwave-safe container and microwave for about 15-30 seconds, or until just warm. This brief heat restores its comforting warmth and brings out its aromatic spices. If you have a bit more time on your hands and crave that freshly baked aroma and slightly crispy exterior, reheat portions in a preheated 325°F (160°C) oven for about 8-10 minutes. The reward will be a warm, fragrant, and incredibly satisfying breakfast experience, as if it just came out of the oven.

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Make-Ahead Granola Breakfast Bread Pudding

This nutritious breakfast bread pudding has everything you need to start your day on the right foot: protein-rich eggs, fiber-filled whole wheat bread, healthy nuts, and dried fruits to add just that perfect touch of sweetness.

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:45 minutes mins

Resting Time:4 hours hrs

Servings 12 servings

Author Marie Asselin, foodnouveau.com

Ingredients

For the granola

• 1/2 cup 125 ml raisins (I like using golden raisins)
• 1/2 cup 125 ml dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup 125 ml chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup 125 ml toasted unsweetened shredded coconut, or coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup 60 ml pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup 60 ml sunflower seeds

For the bread pudding

• 6 eggs
• 2 cups 500 ml whole milk
• 1/4 cup 60 ml maple syrup (or substitute with the sugar of your choice)
• 1 tbsp 15 ml finely grated orange zest
• 2 tsp 10 ml pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp 2 ml ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp 2 ml ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp 2 ml kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp 1 ml freshly grated nutmeg
• 6 cups 1.5 L 1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes of whole wheat or whole grain loaf bread, day old (about 14 oz/400 g)

To assemble

• 2 tbsp 30 ml rolled (old-fashioned) oats
• 2 tbsp 30 ml maple syrup, brown sugar, or coarse sugar (optional)

Instructions

• Grease a 9 inch (23 cm) square baking pan with cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
• In a bowl, combine all the granola ingredients together. Set aside.
• In a second large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, and nutmeg.
• Spread the bread cubes in the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with the granola mixture, then lightly toss so some of the nuts and fruits nestle in between the bread cubes. Pour the egg mixture all over the bread cubes and granola. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a half-day, or up to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Take the bread pudding out of the fridge and uncover. Sprinkle with the rolled oats and drizzle with the maple syrup, if using. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a sharp knife inserted in the center of the bread pudding comes out clean and the top is golden brown. The internal temperature should register 160°F (71°C).
• Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. (The bread pudding will fully set as it cools.)
• SERVING: Cut the bread pudding into squares and serve warm or room temperature as is, or drizzled with additional maple syrup or nut butter.
• STORAGE: Refrigerate bread pudding portions in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 15 seconds, or place in a 325°F oven for 8 minutes.
• MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: Use gluten-free loaf bread instead of a regular loaf. Make sure to use day-old bread for the best texture and flavor.

Did you make this?

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Disclosure: I received monetary compensation to create a delicious egg-based recipe. Companies never dictate what recipes I create, or the opinions I express. I only use products I genuinely believe in.

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