Bread pudding is a sweet, comforting dessert that has been around for centuries. It’s made by soaking bread in a custard mixture, then baking it until set. The basic ingredients are bread, milk, eggs, sugar, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Bread pudding can be topped with different sauces or fruits before serving. It’s a delicious way to use up leftover bread or baked goods. But with its high carbohydrate and calorie content from ingredients like bread, milk, eggs, and sugar, some people wonder exactly how many calories are in a serving of bread pudding.
Calories in Bread Pudding
The number of calories in bread pudding can vary greatly depending on the specific recipe and serving size. Since bread pudding contains high-calorie ingredients like milk, eggs, bread, sugar, and sometimes butter or cream, it packs quite a caloric punch. A 1-cup serving of bread pudding can contain 300-600 calories depending on the exact ingredients and quantities used.
Some factors that affect the calories per serving include:
– Type of bread used – Enriched white bread has around 75 calories per slice, while multigrain and hearty artisan breads may have 100 calories or more per slice. The more caloric the bread, the more calories in the final pudding.
– Milk or cream – Whole milk has about 150 calories per cup compared to around 100 calories for lower fat milks like 2% or skim. Heavy cream is even higher at over 800 calories per cup.
– Egg yolks – Each egg yolk contains about 55 calories. Using fewer yolks reduces calories.
– Sweeteners – White sugar has around 115 calories per 1⁄4 cup. Other sweeteners like brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup also add significant calories.
– Serving size – A small 1⁄2 cup serving with modest ingredients may have around 200 calories, while a very large 1 cup portion could exceed 500 calories.
– Add-ins like nuts, chocolate, or fruit – These can tack on 70+ extra calories per serving.
So a typical 1-cup serving of bread pudding made with enriched white bread, whole milk, egg yolks, and white sugar probably contains around **400-500 calories**. But this can vary a lot depending on your exact recipe.
Calories in a Single Serving Square of Bread Pudding
When bread pudding is made in a baking pan then cut into uniform squares or pieces, the calories will depend on the pan size and how large each piece is cut.
For example, if a 9×9 inch pan of bread pudding is cut into 9 even pieces, each 3-inch square would be around 1 cup or 1/9th of the whole pan. So if the whole pan contained 3600 calories, each square would have around **400 calories**.
Similarly, if an 8×8 inch pan was cut into 16 smaller equal squares, each piece would be around 1⁄2 cup or 1/16 of the whole. So for a pan with 3200 total calories, the 200-calorie 1⁄2 cup squares would each have around **200 calories**.
An additional factor is that the edges of a bread pudding pan brown more and get a bit crunchy during baking. So edge pieces may be slightly higher in calories than center pieces in the same pan. But the difference is usually fairly small.
Here’s a quick rundown of estimated calories for sample square sizes:
– 2-inch square: 100 calories
– 3-inch square: 200 calories
– 4-inch square: 350 calories
So in most cases, a single serving square cut from a standard bread pudding pan contains **200-400 calories**, with larger pieces approaching 500 calories. Pay attention to portion sizes, as having multiple squares can quickly add up in calories!
Calories in Popular Bread Pudding Recipes
To get a sense of calories in typical bread pudding recipes, here is the nutrition information for 1 serving or 1/8th of pan for several popular versions:
Classic Bread Pudding
Made with white bread, milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and raisins.
– Serving size: 1/8th of 8×8 inch pan
– Calories per serving: **312**
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Uses pumpkin bread, milk, eggs, pumpkin puree, spices.
– Serving size: 1/8th of 8×8 inch pan
– Calories per serving: **352**
Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding
Made with white bread, milk, eggs, chocolate chips, vanilla.
– Serving size: 1/8th of 9×9 inch pan
– Calories per serving: **414**
Strawberry Bread Pudding
White bread, milk, eggs, strawberries, vanilla extract.
– Serving size: 1/8th of 9×9 inch pan
– Calories per serving: **379**
Eggnog Bread Pudding
Eggnog, raisin bread, eggs, nutmeg, vanilla.
– Serving size: 1/8th of 8×8 inch pan
– Calories per serving: **343**
As you can see, calories range from 312-414 for a 1/8th portion of these popular recipes. So a single square would be 1/16th of the pan and roughly half the calories.
Tips for Lightening Up Bread Pudding
If you want to enjoy bread pudding but make a lighter version, here are some tips to reduce the calories:
– Use lighter breads like angel food, challah, or raisin bread which have fewer calories per slice.
– Substitute milk alternatives like almond or skim milk to reduce calories.
– Use additional egg whites instead of whole eggs.
– Reduce sugar slightly or use zero-calorie sweetener options.
– Skip adding chocolate, caramel, or creamy sauce toppings.
– Opt for fresh fruit as a lower calorie topping choice.
– Pay close attention to portion sizes and limit to a small square.
– Enjoy it as an occasional treat rather than everyday dessert.
Making some simple ingredient swaps and keeping servings modest can help lighten up this dessert favorite while still allowing you to enjoy its signature taste and texture.
Nutrition Facts for Bread Pudding from Major Brands
Looking at nutrition information for pre-made bread pudding from major brands can also give insight into calorie content:
Stop & Shop Bread Pudding
| Serving size | 1/8 container (113g) |
| Calories | 260 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Carbs | 41g |
| Protein | 6g |
Marie Callender’s Bread Pudding
| Serving size | 1 slice (140g) |
| Calories | 310 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Carbs | 51g |
| Protein | 7g |
Mrs. Smith’s Bread Pudding
| Serving size | 1/6 pouch (106g) |
| Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 7g |
| Carbs | 28g |
| Protein | 4g |
As you can see, calories in pre-made bread pudding range from 180-310 per serving depending on brand and exact serving size.
Calorie Counter for Common Bread Pudding Ingredients
To get an even better sense of where calories are coming from in bread pudding, here is a helpful calorie counter for typical ingredients and their amounts:
| Ingredient | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| White bread, sliced | 2 slices | 150 |
| Whole milk | 1 cup | 150 |
| Egg yolks | 2 yolks | 110 |
| White sugar | 1⁄4 cup | 115 |
| Butter | 1 Tbsp | 100 |
| Golden raisins | 1⁄4 cup | 130 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 tsp | 5 |
| Cinnamon | 1⁄2 tsp | 3 |
| Nutmeg | 1⁄4 tsp | 2 |
As you can see, the high-calorie ingredients like bread, milk, yolks, and sugar contribute significant calories to bread pudding. Use this calorie counter as a guide when modifying recipes.
Conclusion
Bread pudding can certainly be a higher calorie dessert due to its key ingredients like bread, milk, eggs, and sugar. However, the total calories per serving varies based on specific recipe, portion size, and additions like chocolate or fruit. A single serving square from a standard bread pudding pan will provide 200-400 calories. While not exactly diet food, bread pudding can absolutely still be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. Follow the tips provided to lighten it up or stick to modest portion sizes. Knowing the calorie basics provides you the knowledge to enjoy this classic dessert while keeping nutrition in mind.