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Sweet potato bread pudding is reminiscent of the classic Thanksgiving side dish – sweet potato casserole. You’ll love the marshmallow topping! 

Overhead view of sweet potato bread pudding in blue stoneware baking dish, on dark brown wood background. Also pictured are serving spoon, dishes, and forks.

This post is sponsored by Campfire® Marshmallows.

I love bread pudding. Seriously love it. It’s a fantastic dessert — unassuming but SO delicious.

And it also works as breakfast. At least in my book. Eggs, milk, bread. It’s totally breakfast food.

My favorite bread pudding up until now has always been Blueberry Bread Pudding. But move over, blueberry bread pudding, there’s a new kid on the block!

Front view of bread pudding with marshmallows scattered in front and partial image of a bag of Campfire marshmallows in background.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to create a twist on the classic side dish that everyone associates with Turkey Day — Sweet Potato Casserole.

Of course there are already a lot of different takes on the familiar marshmallow-topped classic dish (check out Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole — gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free). Kids especially love hand held sweet potato casserole, complete with marshmallows, of course.

Sweet potato bread pudding just might be something new to you, though. I just know you’re going to love it. 

Close up of single piece of bread pudding on square white plate with fork.

Bread pudding might not be the most photogenic lady but it’s what is inside that counts.

Creamy custard made with flavorful (and healthy!) sweet potatoes. No plain white bread in this lady — she’s loaded with cinnamon swirl bread. Tons of warm fall spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of cardamom to dress her up. 

Add marshmallow topping — sweet, perfectly browned and just a little bit of crispy perfection that will make you feel like you’re sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows.

This will quickly become a favorite Thanksgiving dessert…or breakfast.

(P.S.  It’s a great way to use leftover mashed sweet potatoes, too!)

Make ahead tip: Prepare the casserole but don’t bake it. Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours or even overnight. Remove from fridge while oven is preheating, uncover, and bake as directed. You may need to add a little extra baking time. 

Close up of single serving of bread pudding on plate with baking dish in background.

Partial image of sweet potato bread pudding in blue baking dish

Sweet Potato Bread Pudding with Marshmallow Topping

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Sweet potato bread pudding is reminiscent of the classic Thanksgiving side dish – sweet potato casserole. You’ll love the marshmallow topping!

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sweet potato puree (about 2 sweet potatoes)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 10 cups cubed cinnamon bread
  • 3-4 cups Mini Campfire® Marshmallows

Instructions

  1. Scrub sweet potatoes clean and prick holes all over with a fork. Wrap in paper towel and cook in microwave on high for 5-10 minutes or until soft. Cool slightly. Scoop out flesh and mash or puree. Let cool almost completely.
  2. Whisk together milk, eggs, sweet potato, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  4. Put cubed bread in prepared pan and pour sweet potato mixture over bread. Press down slightly so that all the bread is touching sweet potato mixture.
  5. Allow bread mixture to stand for 10 minutes to soak up the sweet potato mixture.
  6. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the bread pudding is set (stick a knife in the center and look for liquid — if there is still liquid, continue baking. Internal temperature should reach 165°F).
  7. Take the dish out of the oven and sprinkle mini marshmallows over the top — an even layer if possible. Place pan under the broiler for about 1 minute (WATCH CAREFULLY!), until the marshmallows puff up and brown.
  8. Allow to cool about 15 minutes before serving. If there is any leftover, store in fridge.

Notes

  • I use cinnamon swirl bread — if that isn’t available, use white bread and increase cinnamon to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
  • If your kids aren’t allergic to nuts like mine, it would be delicious to fold in 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans.
  • Make ahead tip: Prepare bread pudding but don't bake. Refrigerate, covered, up to 24 hours. Bake as directed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 798Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 768mgCarbohydrates: 135gFiber: 7gSugar: 80gProtein: 14g

RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.

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© Rachel Gurk
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts
You can find out more about Campfire® Marshmallows by visiting their website or follow along with them on Facebook and Pinterest. 

*Disclosure: Campfire® marshmallows compensated me for my time to create this recipe and write this post. All opinions are, as always, my own. I’m always grabbing a couple marshmallows out of the bag to snack on. Thanks for reading my blog and reading about brands I use and love.