Bread Pudding – Indulge, in the embrace of our Classic Bread Pudding Recipe, a timeless dessert that turns simple ingredients into a decadent delight. This simple-to-follow recipe combines the goodness of bread with a luscious custard baked to a golden perfection. It’s a testament to the enchantment of baking creating a dessert that’s both comforting and delightful.
The scent of cinnamon and vanilla filling the kitchen the crackle of the crust under your spoon. These are cherished memories from my first bread pudding adventure, born out of leftovers on an inspired whim. My family gathered around initially skeptical but curious nonetheless and with one bite our home was filled with warmth and sweet silence. The surprise in my husband’s eyes and my child’s joyful giggle became the reviews I could ask for. This bread pudding wasn’t merely a dessert; it became a tradition—a symbol of simplicity and happiness in our family gatherings.
What makes this Bread Pudding truly captivating?
What makes this Bread Pudding Recipe truly captivating is its nature and soul-satisfying flavor. It allows you to breathe life into types of leftover bread—whether it be sweet donuts or rich brioche—making it an exciting canvas, for culinary exploration. This bread pudding has a charm. It’s simple yet powerful turning ingredients into a comforting and traditional dessert. With the option to adjust the sweetness level and the delightful scent of cinnamon and vanilla this dessert goes beyond the usual offering a treat, for everyone’s taste buds. If you choose to add the vanilla sauce it adds a boutique touch, to this timeless dish making it a rustic yet sophisticated way to end any meal.
What You Need To Make This Bread Pudding Recipe?
Stale Bread: This humble ingredient takes on the role of eagerly absorbing the custard and becoming essential in this culinary tale.
Butter: A touch of golden decadence generously brushed onto the bread slices ensuring a moist and indulgent texture, for the pudding.
Beaten Eggs: The master builders that create a sturdy yet delicate structure within the pudding enhancing its creamy base with subtle richness.
Milk: The canvas for the egg’s artistry seamlessly blending into the mixture to produce a comforting embrace of creamy custard around the bread.
White Sugar: An omnipresent sweetness that perfectly balances the richness of flavors and adds timeless simplicity to the taste profile.
Vanilla Extract: A whisper of warmth and depth that permeates through each bite infusing the dish with a cozy aroma.
Cinnamon: The heartwarming spice that imparts heat and intricate complexity to every mouthful.
For a Vanilla Sauce:
Butter: Handpicked for its velvety richness it serves as the foundation of our sauce. As it melts and combines with sugar it undergoes a transformation from ordinary, to extraordinary.
Brown Sugar: With its rich molasses flavor brown sugar adds a depth that goes beyond the simplicity of sugar. It brings a toffee sweetness and contributes a caramel note to the sauce.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla takes center stage as the heart of the sauce. Its sweet fragrance promises a comforting touch.
Steps To Make Bread Pudding:
Step 1: Let’s start our adventure by preheating the oven to a comforting temperature of 350 degrees. Take a tablespoon of butter. Gently spread it over the inside of an 8-inch square baking dish.
Step 2: Now tear your chosen bread into pieces that promise a delightful texture and arrange them in the dish like a charming patchwork quilt. Melt the remaining butter. Generously drizzle it over the bread giving it a shine.
Step 3: In a bowl whisk together the beaten eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until they blend harmoniously. Pour this mixture over the bread making sure that every piece gets coated with its sweet touch.
Step 4: Slide the dish into the oven and bake until the top turns brown and springs back when lightly touched. An indication that our bread pudding is ready to bring comfort and joy.
Step 5: For those who want a treat let’s create something magical in a saucepan. Melt some butter until it sings with delight then add sugar and vanilla while stirring until they form a caramel whisper. Drizzle this enchanting sweetness, over the bread pudding to add some crunchiness that beautifully complements its softness underneath.
Tip:
To take your Bread Pudding Recipe to the next level make sure to give your bread and custard some quality time together before baking. Once you’ve poured the custard over the bread in your dish gently press down on the pieces so that every little corner gets soaked in the mixture. Allow this to sit for around 15 to 20 minutes before putting it in the oven. This break, during preparation, allows the bread to fully soak up the custard ensuring that the final texture is incredibly tender and consistently moist. It’s a crucial step that elevates your bread pudding from good, to exquisite adding depth and richness that will make each bite feel like pure luxury.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use any type of bread for this recipe?
Of course! Don’t be afraid to get creative and try types of bread to add textures and flavors.
How do I know if the bread pudding is done?
You’ll know it’s ready when the top turns brown and if you gently press it with a fork it should bounce back.
Can this bread pudding be made in advance?
Absolutely! You can prepare the bread pudding, in advance. Keep it refrigerated overnight before baking. This actually allows the bread to absorb the custard fully resulting in an indulgent flavor.
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Bread Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
For The Bread Pudding:
- 6 slices stale bread or about 4-5 c of broken bread pieces or cubes
- 3 tbsp. butter divided (1 tbsp. + 2 tbsp.)
- 4 eggs beaten
- 2 c milk
- 3/4 c white sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Optional Vanilla Sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter salted or unsalted
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Bread Pudding Recipe:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Take an 8-inch baking dish. Apply a layer of butter using 1 tbsp.
- Break the bread into pieces. Place them in the buttered dish. Drizzle melted butter (2 tbsp.), over the bread.
- In a bowl mix beaten eggs, milk (2 cups), sugar (3/4 cup), vanilla extract (1 tsp) and cinnamon (1 tsp). Pour this mixture evenly over the bread in the dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven, for 45 minutes or until the pudding bounces back lightly when touched.
Optional Vanilla Sauce:
- In a saucepan melt butter (3 tbsp.) over high heat. Once melted reduce heat to medium. Let the butter slightly brown.
- Stir in sugar (1 tbsp.) and vanilla extract (1 tsp). Remove from heat allow it to rest for 1 to 2 minutes then stir again before pouring it over the cooked bread pudding.
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!