Mince Pie Croissant Bread & Butter Pudding | One Pot One Portion
Mince pie bread & butter pudding is every ounce of Christmas deliciousness all crammed into one single-serve dessert pot. A great alternative to a classic mince pie with a its buttery crust, this uses buttery croissants instead (and because they're so buttery you don't have to spend time buttering bread for the pudding, it's a win win!). The ultimate comfort food, this cosy dessert is best served warm with lashings of ambrosial custard.
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Mince pie croissant bread and butter pudding is a single-serve, oven-baked festive dessert designed for cooking for one. Made in one small ovenproof dish, it combines buttery croissant pieces with spiced mincemeat and a rich vanilla custard. The flavour is deeply comforting, sweet, and warming, with crisp golden edges and a soft, custardy centre. This one-portion pudding delivers all the nostalgia of Christmas dessert without leftovers. It’s practical, indulgent, and perfect for cosy solo evenings.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Recipe
Perfectly Portioned for One
This dessert is scaled specifically for a single serving, meaning no half trays of pudding sitting in the fridge. It’s festive indulgence without waste.
Quick & Easy
Using croissants instead of bread means no buttering is required — they’re rich enough already. Everything mixes directly in the baking dish for minimal prep.
One Pot Baking
The custard, croissant, and mincemeat all come together in one small dish, keeping washing up to an absolute minimum.
Ultimate Festive Comfort
Served warm with custard, cream, or ice cream, this pudding is cosy, nostalgic, and everything you want from a Christmas dessert for one.
Eleanor’s Top Tips for the Perfect Mince Pie Croissant Bread & Butter Pudding
- Use a day-old croissant if possible — it absorbs the custard more evenly.
- Cut the croissant into small, even cubes for a consistent texture.
- Squish the croissant gently into the custard so it soaks fully.
- Dot the mincemeat over the top rather than mixing it all in for pockets of flavour.
- Bake until just set — it should still have a slight wobble in the centre.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving so the custard finishes setting.
- Serve warm for the best texture and flavour.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Essential Ingredients
- Egg yolk: Forms the rich custard base.
- Double cream: Adds indulgence and silkiness.
- Whole milk: Lightens the custard.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and aroma.
- Caster sugar: Sweetens the custard.
- Mincemeat: Brings festive spice and fruitiness.
- Croissant: Buttery, flaky alternative to bread.
To Serve (Optional)
- Custard
- Cream
- Ice cream
Essential Tools
- Small ovenproof dish (12–14cm)
- Mixing spoon or fork
- Knife
- Baking tray (optional, for stability)
Dietary Variations
Vegetarian
This recipe is naturally vegetarian.
Dairy-Free
Use dairy-free cream, milk, and croissants to adapt the recipe.
Different Flavours
Add orange zest or a pinch of cinnamon to the custard for extra festive warmth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I make this bread and butter pudding ahead of time?
A: It’s best baked fresh, but you can assemble it a few hours ahead and refrigerate before baking.
Q: What size dish works best for a single-serve pudding?
A: A small dish around 12–14cm wide ensures even baking and a custardy centre.
Q: Can I use puff pastry instead of croissant?
A: Croissants work best, but brioche or enriched bread can also be used.
Q: How do I know when it’s cooked?
A: The top should be golden and the centre just set with a slight wobble.
Q: Is this a good alternative to a mince pie?
A: Yes — it delivers the same festive flavours in a warmer, more comforting format.
Cosy, indulgent, and deeply nostalgic, this single-serve mince pie croissant pudding proves that Christmas dessert for one can be every bit as special.
Ingredients
- 1 egg yolk
- 40g double cream
- 30g whole milk
- Splash of vanilla extract
- 20g caster sugar
- 2 tbsp mince meat
- 1 croissant, cut into small cubes
To serve:
- Cream, ice cream, or custard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
- To a small ovenproof dish add the egg yolk, double cream, milk, vanilla and caster sugar. Add 1 tablespoon of the mince meat.
- Mix together until you have a smooth custard.
- Add the cubes of croissant to your custard mixture.
- Squish and mix everything together so the croissant is fully covered in the custard and absorbs most of it.
- Top with little dollops of the other tablespoon of mince meat.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and slightly firm to the touch.
- Serve with cream, ice cream, or custard.
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?