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Home » Recipes » Courses » Desserts » Cake

Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake

Published: Nov 13, 2018 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Sep 21, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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I had only heard of bread pudding as a kid, but never actually tasted it. When I eventually made it for myself as an adult, I fell in love with it! So, I decided to make it into a cheesecake and WOW... This union of tasty cranberry bread pudding, light cream cheese, ricotta cheese and citrus caramel sauce, with an unexpected and welcome toffee crunch, is the definition of delicious, modern comfort food. 

Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake | holiday cheesecake - foodmeanderings.com

And this Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake is the perfect holiday cheesecake recipe! It's also ideal for special occasions. But I wondered why we never had bread pudding growing up?

Jump to:
  • 💭What is bread pudding?
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Top tips
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 🌡️Storing
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake Recipe
  • 🎄More Holiday Desserts!

We weren't much of a dessert family - kudos to my Mom for not setting us up for bad habits. But even when we did have dessert for special occasions and holiday dinners, bread pudding was NEVER on the menu.

When I asked my Mom why we never had bread pudding she was surprised that I'd even want it. When she was growing up, it was not a particularly desirable dessert. It was a dessert for using up leftover stale bread; it was what you ate for dessert if you didn't have money. But to me, bread pudding was special, even kind of exotic. Funny how perceptions change from generation to generation.

Cranberry bread pudding cheesecake recipe | holiday cheesecake

💭What is bread pudding?

But Mom was right about bread pudding (among lots of other things) - it was known as "poor man's pudding" going all the way back to the 11th century. Yet, although it started out as a frugal dessert, bread pudding recipes are now considered trendy; even showing up on the menu of upscale restaurants! You can read more about the Origin of Bread Pudding HERE.

🥘 Ingredients

I add cranberries to my bread pudding because cranberries add a welcome tartness to a sweet dish and they always make me think of Christmas. So I added them to my Christmas Cheesecake too! With their bright, red shiny color, they reflect the season so perfectly. Even as early as the 1840's, people were stringing them with popcorn to make festive garlands for the Christmas tree. With their winter availability and the fact they were slow to spoil, cranberries represented one of the few fruits that could be served fresh during the holidays. And although many berries are now available all year round, cranberries still symbolize the holidays, whatever form you serve them in!

For this bread pudding cheesecake recipe, you'll need:

  • crushed graham crackers
  • fine bread crumbs
  • all-purpose flour
  • white sugar
  • powdered sugar/icing sugar
  • butter
  • cinnamon
  • dried bread
  • condensed milk
  • milk
  • toffee bit * I use Skor
  • dried cranberries
  • digestive cookies/digestive biscuits
  • ricotta cheese
  • light cream cheese
  • vanilla
  • salt 
  • eggs
  • orange juice
  • whipping cream (heavy cream)
  • orange zest
  • cornstarch

*see recipe card for quantities

📖 Variations

For mini cheesecakes: Use meat pie foil plates (5” X 1 ⅜”) and cook the crust and filling for about half the time of the regular cheesecake (checking regularly for doneness)

💭 Top tips

Quick Dried Bread: To dry out your bread very quickly, bake it in the oven at 300 degrees F for 3 minutes on each side

Water bath for Cheesecake: if you want to learn how to make a water bath, then watch this video on how to make a water bath for cheesecake! I like her trick of using a bigger pan to protect the cheesecake, but you can also tinfoil.

How to tell if your cheesecake is done: It will still be barely jiggly when you shake/move it from side to side and the sides will have separated from the edges of the pan. But you will see it is puffed up a little around the center 

Cranberry Bread Pudding Holiday Cheesecake Recipe | #cheesecake #holiday #bread pudding

And this Cranberry Cheesecake is the perfect holiday cheesecake recipe as well as the ultimate bread pudding lover's cheesecake. It makes a great holiday dessert, especially if you're looking for something a little different. My family had it for Thanksgiving this year and it was a great way to change things up a little!

🍽 Equipment

You will need a 9 inch springform pan to make this cranberry bread pudding cheesecake recipe. A stand mixer (affiliate links) is ideal, but you could use a hand mixer if you needed to.

👪 Serving Size

This recipe makes 1- 9 inch cake and serves 12.

🌡️Storing

You can make this bread pudding cheesecake in advance and store it in an airtight container in fridge for up to 3 days.

Bread pudding is such a comforting dessert and in a cheesecake, it's well... just spectacular! So, if you are looking for a cranberry cheesecake recipe and you love bread pudding, this is like a cranberry bread pudding and holiday cheesecake all rolled into one! It's a spectacular dessert tha will definitely become your new holiday cheesecake tradition! And be sure to check out my other holiday cheesecake recipes and holiday desserts below the recipe card.

Happy Holidays!

⭐ Reviews

Did you LOVE this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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cranberry bread pudding cheesecake on a white plate with a fork and remainder of cheesecake in background
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📋Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake Recipe

Have your bread pudding and cheesecake too! This Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake is a union of tasty bread pudding, cranberry cheesecake, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, citrus caramel sauce, with an unexpected and welcome toffee crunch. It's a bread pudding lover's cheesecake dream!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: North American
Keyword: bread pudding, cheesecake, cranberry, holiday
Special Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 537kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Refrigeration time: 8 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
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Ingredients

Base:

  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • ¾ cup fine bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoon icing sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Filling:

  • 6 dried bread slices, cut into bread cubes I uses ½ white bread and ½ whole wheat cut into cubes (leave on counter overnight or dry in oven - see RECIPE NOTES for details)
  • ½ cupcakes condensed milk
  • ¾ cup 1% milk
  • ⅓ cup mini toffee bits * I use Skor
  • ¾ cup sweetened dried cranberries
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup digestive cookies/digestive biscuits crushed into bits - about ½ a 350 g box
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 3- 8- oz. -packages light cream cheese at room temperature
  • 2 tbp all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature

Orange Caramel Topping:

  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • 1 cup whipping cream warmed
  • ¾ tsp. orange zest
  • 3 ½ tsp. cornstarch

Garnish:

  • ¼ cup toffee bits
  • orange zest
  • cranberries
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heads up: There is an 8 hr setting (refrigeration) time!
  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F/ 190 degrees C. Spray 9” springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Base:

  • In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker, bread crumbs, granulated sugar, ½ tsp. cinnamon and icing sugar. Mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist and clump together slightly.
  • Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom of the pan. Bake until the crust is fragrant - approx. 10 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
  • In a separate large bowl, mix together the milk, condensed milk, ½ tsp. cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Pour the mixture over the bread and stir until the bread is coated. Let soak 5 minutes. Stir in toffee bits and dried cranberries. Set aside.

Filling:

  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, ricotta, flour, and a pinch of table salt on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle frequently. Beat until very smooth and fluffy- about 5 minutes. 
  • Make sure the cheese has no lumps. Add the granulated sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon cinnamon , beating just until blended.
  • Fold in the bread mixture and crushed cookies into the cream cheese mixture. Pour cheesecake filling into a prepared springform plan.
  • Bake at 300 degrees F (in water bath- see NOTES OR simply put a pan ⅔ full of hot water UNDER the cheesecake to create moisture in oven) until the center jiggles like Jell-O when nudged- approximately 1 hour.

Topping:

  • To make the Caramel-Orange Sauce: in a small saucepan, combine the sugar and orange juice, and orange zest. Cook over medium-high heat about 8 minutes until the sugar turns amber in color. 
    citrus caramel sauce
  • Remove from heat and quickly stir in the warm cream. Return sauce to stove, whisk in cornstarch and cook for approximately 5-7 additional minutes on medium low, until it thickens to the consistency of gravy. Whisk constantly turn to low at end up to 10 minutes.

Assembly:

  • When cake has completely cooled (20-30 minutes) pour topping over the top of the bread pudding cheesecake and refrigerate for 8 hrs. or overnight.(*Note: Do not skip this step! It must be refrigerated for 8 hours or cake will have a runny center). 

Garnish:

  • Top with toffee bits, orange zest and cranberries (as shown in photos)  and serve.

Notes

*Please see post contents for important recipe information and tips!
Nutrition Facts
📋Cranberry Bread Pudding Cheesecake Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 537 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 125mg42%
Sodium 408mg18%
Potassium 280mg8%
Carbohydrates 71g24%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 44g49%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 855IU17%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 188mg19%
Iron 2.1mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 537kcal (27%) | Carbohydrates: 71g (24%) | Protein: 12g (24%) | Fat: 24g (37%) | Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) | Cholesterol: 125mg (42%) | Sodium: 408mg (18%) | Potassium: 280mg (8%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 44g (49%) | Vitamin A: 855IU (17%) | Vitamin C: 10mg (12%) | Calcium: 188mg (19%) | Iron: 2.1mg (12%)
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
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  • Cranberry Toffee Christmas Bread Pudding
  • Leftover Cranberry Sauce Coffee Cake (with Coffee Glaze)
  • Skinny Pumpkin Cheesecake with Oreo Cookie Crust
  • Butter Tart Bundt Cake with Brown Butter & Maple Glaze
  • Cranberry Gingerbread Stovetop Rice Pudding (Gluten-free)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise from Urb’n’Spice

    November 22, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    What a unique and intriguing cheesecake, Terri! Bread pudding was certainly something that Mom made us. Lots of mouths to feed! I must try it in cheesecake form - thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      November 24, 2018 at 9:38 am

      Yes, bread pudding can definitely feed a lot of people for a reasonable cost! But it's even better in a cheesecake - enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

    November 23, 2018 at 10:45 am

    I love all the elements you brought together in this festive cheesecake! And you can't go wrong with a cranberry dessert for the holidays!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      November 24, 2018 at 9:26 am

      Thank you, Leanne! I agree - can't go wrong with cranberries during the holidays 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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