Bougatsa-Inspired Custard Bread Bake (gluten-free)
Bougatsa-Inspired Custard Bread Bake is a gluten-free take on a traditional Greek Bougatsa - just without the pastry! It can be described as a Creamy Vanilla & Cinnamon Bread Pudding. While the flaky layers may be missing, this custard bread bake delivers all the rich, creamy textures and warm, spiced flavours of the traditional dessert. Infused with cinnamon and vanilla, the soft, pillowy bread soaks up the luscious custard, creating a melt-in-your-mouth dessert that’s effortlessly simple to make. Gluten-free and made with just a handful of ingredients, it’s a comforting, easy-to-bring-together dish that tastes so similar to the classic Bougatsa. Let's start cooking!
Story Behind the Recipe
Last week, at my mother’s, she served warm Greek Bougatsa to her guests, filling the house with the delicious aromas of cinnamon and vanilla. Creamy, comforting, and irresistibly tasty, it was a dessert my daughter had never been able to enjoy due to coeliac disease - I had to change that!
Instead of using pastry, I reimagined Bougatsa in a way that was both effortless and gluten-free while still capturing the same luscious custard, warm cinnamon, and fragrant vanilla of the original. The result? A golden, pillowy Greek Bougatsa Custard Bread Bake—soft, rich, and just as comforting as tradition intended. Every spoonful melts in your mouth, carrying the nostalgic warmth of a freshly baked Bougatsa straight from the oven. I hope you enjoy it as much as she did!
Watch How to Make It
Bougatsa, but DIFFERENT!
This is not a traditional Bougatsa in any way - it’s a completely new take on the classic. The purpose of this recipe is to capture the rich, creamy custard and warm cinnamon-vanilla flavours of Bougatsa while making it gluten-free, simple to prepare, and accessible to everyone. Instead of filo pastry, this version uses soft, pillowy bread to soak up the custard, creating a comforting, golden-baked dessert that’s easy to make at home.
Bougatsa-Inspired Custard Bread Bake (gluten-free)
(Creamy Vanilla & Cinnamon Bread Pudding)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25+ minutes
INGREDIENTS
8 slices @abbottsbakery Gluten-Free Rustic White, cubed
600ml milk (or dairy-free alternative)
4 large eggs
¼ cup caster sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 heaped tablespoon of butter, for greasing (about 30g)
2 tablespoons icing sugar, for dusting
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, for dusting
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat Oven & Grease Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a baking dish with butter or olive oil. Dish approximately 25cm x 20cm.
2. Prepare the Custard: In a large and deep mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, then add the caster sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and milk. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.
3. Cube the Bread: Stack four slices of bread evenly, then cut them into nine equal squares by slicing twice vertically and twice horizontally to create a grid pattern. Add the bread cubes to the custard mixture, fully submerging them. Let them soak for a few seconds and gently press down to ensure they absorb the liquid evenly.
4. Assemble & Bake: Pour the bread and custard mixture into a greased baking dish, then evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the top, allowing it to settle among the soft bread pieces. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and set.
5. Finish & Serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. If desired, drizzle a little extra melted butter over the top, then generously sift icing sugar and cinnamon over the surface. The extra dusting enhances the classic bougatsa flavour, so don't be shy with it! Serve warm or chilled.
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Margaret Pahos @CreateCookShare
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