Oma's Kirschenmichel – Easy Bread Pudding With Cherries

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

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Kirschenmichel is an easy Bread Pudding that's popular in southern Germany.

Kirschenmichel is an easy bread pudding that's very popular in southern Germany.

It's the Semmelauflauf with cherries in northern Germany that I grew up with, although Mutti usually added raisins. So good!

It's the perfect choice to make when dessert is needed and there is some leftover bread or rolls that need to be used up. Add some eggs and milk ... and cherries ... and it's a perfect dessert that's special enough for company.

(Are you a chocolate chip fan? Then you'll need to try Taryn's chocolate chip bread pudding as well!)

Pitting Cherries?

As I was doing some research on this Kirschenmichel, I came across an interesting fact:  All cherries are intentionally left unpitted! Meaning, that when one ate this yummy dessert, one needed to be careful about constantly biting into pits! Ouch!

I can't imagine baking any cherry dessert or cake or pie and intentionally leaving in the pits!

Personally, I go to great lengths to make sure that ALL the pits are removed AND I also warn my guests to be careful, just in case there's a missed pit lurking in the dessert. Don't want to make the dentist rich.

Please do take the time to pit your cherries if you are using fresh ones. When I use jarred or canned cherries, I will gently pinch each cherry to make sure it has no pit. I'll find a pit occasionally, which makes me continue to do this.

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Kirschenmichel? Kirschenplotzer? Ofenschlupfer? Semmelauflauf?

These are all various forms of German bread puddings. The first two are with cherries, the third with apples, and the last with just bread (although my Mutti would put raisins in hers)

• Kirschenmichel translates into “cherry Michael”
• Kirschenplotzer translates into “fallen cherries”
• Ofenschlupfer translates into “slide into the oven”
• Semmelauflauf translates into “bread roll casserole”

All of the above taste best when served warm ... fresh from the oven. Serve with some vanilla sauce, whipped cream or ice cream. Comfort food. Wunderbar!

Ready to make this German bread pudding?

Print Recipe

Oma's Kirschenmichel – Easy Bread Pudding With Cherries

Kirschenmichel is an easy bread pudding that's very popular in southern Germany.

It's a Semmelauflauf with cherries in northern Germany that I grew up with, although Mutti usually added raisins. So good!

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Bake Time:

40 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour

Servings:

Makes 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 stale rolls or 6 slices stale bread
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) warm milk
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 4 tablespoons (52 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons (6 grams) cinnamon (optional)
• 1 (28-ounce [794-gram]) jar sour cherries, drained
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
• 1 - 2 tablespoons (8-16 grams) powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Grease a 9×12-inch casserole dish with butter.
2. Slice or cube the rolls. Put them into a bowl and pour the milk over top. Stir gently and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Gently stir in the milk-soaked bread and well-drained cherries.
4. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites and salt until stiff.
5. Gently fold the egg whites into the bread mixture.
6. Pour the batter into the greased casserole dish and smooth the top. Dot with the butter.
7. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned. Let it cool.
8. Just before serving, put the powdered sugar into a sieve, and holding it over the bread pudding, tap the sieve to dust the sugar over the top.

Notes/Hints:

• The best bread to use is an artisan type, such as a French or Italian loaf. Don't use regular sliced sandwich bread. It will just go mushy.
• Make sure the cherries have the pits removed. If you wish, you can use fresh cherries for a real treat.
• Adding some cherry brandy, kirschwasser, makes this a yummy adult treat.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Updated on January 18, 2026

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From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.