Classic Rich and Creamy Grape-Nuts Pudding is the Perfect Vintage Recipe to Try!
Serve up this old-fashioned Grape-Nuts pudding as a decadent dessert or even as a unique breakfast idea.
Have a box of Grape-Nuts cereal in the pantry?
Did you know that you can make an excellent custard-like pudding with crunchy Grape-Nuts?! This creamy dish has such great nostalgic vibes and tastes just like Grandma used to make. I think this would be a great addition to any holiday or special occasion brunch, too! YUM.
I actually had never heard of Grape-Nuts pudding until Collin shared with me that it was one of her childhood faves. I only vaguely remember my parents eating lots of the cereal in the ’80s. 😂 Making a pudding with it is genius!
Note from Collin:
I grew up eating Grape-Nuts pudding (it was one of my favorite treats!), so it has a special place in my heart and reminds me of my childhood. 😍 I’m thinkin’ it may not sound that appetizing to some of you, but seriously, don’t knock it until you try it. 🙌
Such a simple recipe with easy ingredients you probably have on hand.
Essentially, this method includes whisking all ingredients together including milk, cream, vanilla extract, eggs, and spices (cinnamon and nutmeg). Pour all of it into a 2-quart casserole dish with Grape-Nuts cereal and bake for a little over an hour until the mixture becomes firm.
Tips for making the best Grape-Nuts pudding:
- Baking in a water bath is an easy and recommended step. You’ll want to place your casserole dish inside a larger roasting pan, then fill the roasting pan with water about halfway up the sides of the casserole dish before baking.
- You can serve it up warm or cold – it’s up to your preference! You can also top it with whipped cream, fruit, or additional Grape-Nuts for some crunch.
- Curious about my cute casserole dish? I love using my vintage-inspired Cornflower Corningware — so fun and fitting for this classic recipe!
- Leftovers can be kept covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Classic Grape-Nuts Pudding
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES
total time: 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES
Make creamy vanilla custard with Grape-Nuts cereal as a delicious breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 13x9 casserole dish with butter.
2
Soak Grape-Nuts cereal in hot water to soften for about ten minutes. Drain water.
3
In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, cream, vanilla, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4
Pour mixture into the casserole dish along with the cereal. Mix to evenly distribute the cereal.
5
Set casserole dish in a roasting pan and fill halfway with water. Bake for about 60-75 minutes until custard is firm all the way through. It took closer to 75 minutes in my oven.
6
Once firm, remove from oven and let cool. Serve warm or cold. Leftovers must be kept covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Additional Notes
Adapted from Genius.Kitchen.com
Grape-Nuts pudding is so creamy and rich!
OK, guys, I’m here to report this custard is delish! The texture reminds me of yummy flan, and I love how the Grape-Nuts change their texture to become soft. I think you’ll enjoy this yummy baked cereal vanilla pudding!
This make-ahead sausage and egg breakfast casserole gets an A+ for breakfast!
Grape Nuts cereal is one the most underrated cereals. I love the intense crunch and how it softens as you progress through the bowl. Lots of textural changes and a wonderful flavor.
Oh thanks for sharing your thoughts!
YES, YES, YES and YES!! Totally agree! 🙌
I also grew up on grapenut pudding and make it just a little different than your recipe. My nanas both called it grapenut custard pudding. It’s my favorite!
Yum!!! Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy! You’re so welcome ❤️
We also love grape nuts but haven’t heard of this before, going to have to try it soon! Thanks!
I’m so glad! Yes I think you’ll like this 😀
Looks and sounds yummy. I’ve never had grape nuts before.
You’ve gotta try it. SO GOOD! 😋
Never had this cereal. Does it have grapes or nuts in it?
No. It’s a very crunchy grain based cereal. You can read actual history here ~ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape-Nuts
So when I was growing up I used to love Grape-Nut ice cream. I lived in CT at the time and had no issues finding it. I now live in the south and no one has ever heard of it lol. I will absolutely be trying this recipe. It looks amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Oh that’s funny! Yes I bet you’ll love this idea! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by. 😀
We had grape nut ice cream in Maine last summer and it was so good! Must be a northern delicacy.
I used to love grape nut ice-cream growing up too. It’s been a long time since I’ve had it, I wonder if it would taste as good as I remember it. Every time I talk about it I get strange looks too. No-one I know has heard of it.
Grape-Nuts ice cream was one of my favorite flavors when I was a kid! <3 It's still for sale in stores here in Maine. No one I knew outside of the state had ever heard of it either!
Here in South Central PA, grape nuts ice cream is made about everywhere but I’ve never tried it. I’ve heard people say they only thought it was this area, which isn’t too surprising since we have a lot of PA Dutch foods, but it’s cool to hear that it’s in other places too 😊
Grape-Nuts ice cream is the BEST! You can ‘make’ your own at home. Since I live in VA, there’s no way to get it around here…sad times.
I just put a cup of Grape-Nuts in a bowl, pour milk in to cover the cereal and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Buy a good quality vanilla ice cream (half gal) and let it soften a bit. After the cereal has done its thing, empty the ice cream into a large bowl and then drain the Grape-Nuts and stir the remaining cereal into the ice cream. Spoon the ice cream back into its container. Let re–freeze, and enjoy!
I eat grape nuts and strawberries in my yogurt every morning. Love the crunch! This recipe looks yummy!
That’s awesome! Enjoy Amy 😉
It’s one of my favorites and I haven’t had since I worked at a diner in my late teens that used to serve it!
I was today years old when I found out that grape nuts has neither raisins in it nor nuts. The name is
so misleading lol. I will definitely be trying this out, thanks!
LOL enjoy – and I agree! Ha
My mother use to eat grape nuts all the time. I love them. My husband says grape nuts is like eating gravel. I just say “more for me.”
When I was a child I never liked nuts. So when my mother would make banana bread she would substitute grape nuts in the batter. It gave the batter the same texture of adding nuts without the nuts. Now I do the same for my children.
That’s an awesome tip about the banana bread! Thanks for sharing!
You need to try the Grape-Nuts cereal muffins recipe. It is fabulous!
Can you share the grape nuts muffin recipe? I’m having trouble finding it
https://recipecurio.com/grape-nuts-bread-recipe-clipping/
I have been using this recipe for years. My son will request this for his birthday breakfast. If you make into muffins, just don’t cook as long.
Some people mentioned about a Grape Nuts Ice Cream. This website also has a recipe which I now want to try!
https://recipecurio.com/vanilla-grape-nuts-ice-cream-recipe/
We used to eat Grape Nuts and the large Shredded Wheat. Neither seem to have coupons available on them anymore. I will have to make your pudding, it sounds like egg custard. DH likes to run hot water over his shreded what before putting in this bowl to make it soft. I like the texture on my shredded wheat and grapenuts before they get soggy. Here’s to a new dessert for the weekend.
Ok yes I love shredded wheat! Ha yum. Yes, I think you’ll like it! Thanks so much for stopping by ❤️
I love Grape Nuts! I just wish they were healthier! My favorite way to eat them is warmed up in the microwave with milk, honey, and a little bit of butter. Yum!
Awesome! Yes my hubby grew up eating it that way ❤️
never heard of this ice cream or pudding before.
google lead me to this: https://www.eater.com/2018/9/24/17887660/grape-nuts-cereal-ice-cream-flavor-history-explainer-recipe
Oh interesting! I’d like to try that ice cream – thanks for sharing 👍
Do you think this wwould work with the grape nut flakes cereal?
hmm..I’m not sure – I think so- maybe not exactly the same texture, but similar!
I love Grape-Nuts and I am so happy to have found that all these has their own brand for $1.99… I don’t notice any difference from the Post brand
*Aldi’s
Oh that’s great! I love Aldi too.
in the pictures, it looks like the grape nuts sink down and makes kind of a crust to the pudding– is this what happens? does it all mix in evenly together while it bakes, or does it end up in a layered effect while it cooks?
They do sink somewhat but, are also all over. Hope that makes sense. Ha
I ate Grape Nuts cereal growing up and thought I was a total nerd for loving it! Now I know that they are just a very well kept secret! Yum!
Ah yes! 👏 thanks for sharing!
Whole milk, 2% or does it matter?
Thank you
I used 1% but I don’t think it matters. Thanks for the question!
I love to make puddings and cream pies and find canned milk like pet milk makes pudding and cream pie’s richer. My Mom taught me this little trick and it works great in cream soups also.
I don’t have a large pan to put the dish in a water bath? Can I just bake it in the dish without the water bath?
Can you freeze the gradient pudding for individual portions?
We haven’t tried that but let us know if you do! Thanks
I waitressed in a local eatery in high school here in CT and we used to serve this. It was very popular and delicious!
Oh nice! Thanks for sharing!
That looks soo good 🤤
Thanks Cate M!
When I was a kid, we used to take Grape-Nuts cereal and mix it with our favorite yogurt and then put it in the freezer. It was so good! You can used whatever flavor yogurt you like and it only take 40-60 minutes to get cold. It’s best to take it out when it’s cold but not frozen!! Yum.
I love hot Grape Nuts – it used to be a recipe on the back of the box. I mix some grape nuts with just a bit more milk than cereal, then top with a little butter and honey and microwave for a minute. It’s so good! But SOOO many calories, lol!
Grape Nuts is the only cereal our kid likes, so we will have to give this a try. 😊
Interesting
I need a recipe for Grape Nuts PUDDING but even after spending HOURS searching the net/web I find ONLY GN CUSTARDS calling themselves PUDDINGS!! I do NOT want…or even like custards!! To me there i NOTHING “creamy” about a custard!! Do YOU (or anyone else that might see my comment) know of a recipe fpr GN pudding,,,OR is there any way I can turn a recipe from a custard into a pudding?? I would soo appreciate a reply!! Thank YOU Monika
Hi Monika! It seems that custards typically have eggs included in them, like this recipe. You might try finding a pudding recipe you like, and then add the Grape-Nuts to it. We haven’t tested this method yet, but let us know how it turns out, if you decide to try it out! 🤗
Would it b ok to make w/out grapenuts
Hey Tina! We haven’t tested this recipe out without the cereal, but without it, it would just be more of a classic plain egg custard. 🤗 Let us know how you like it, if you give it a try!
Will do thx for reply🙂
You’re welcome! 💞