Description
Grandma’s old-fashioned bread pudding with vanilla sauce emerges as a nostalgic dessert cherishing family traditions. Classic comfort blends sweet custard and warm spices, promising comfort in each delightful spoonful you savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large eggs
- 6 cups (350g) bread, cubed (French bread, brioche, or challah)
- 4 cups (960ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup (80g) raisins (optional)
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Bread Base: Cube bread into uniform pieces and spread evenly across the greased baking dish, creating a foundational layer.
- Custard Creation: Whisk milk, white and brown sugars, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Bread Saturation: Pour custard over bread cubes, gently pressing to ensure complete absorption, then strategically distribute raisins throughout the mixture.
- Resting Phase: Allow pudding to rest 10-15 minutes, enabling bread to soak up the rich custard flavors and develop depth.
- Baking Process: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the center sets with a gentle firmness.
- Vanilla Sauce Preparation: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and whisk in sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until the sauce reaches a luxurious, silky consistency.
- Serving Finale: Remove pudding from oven, cool briefly, then slice and serve with a generous drizzle of warm vanilla sauce, celebrating a classic dessert that embodies comfort and tradition.
Notes
- Select Bread Carefully: Use day-old or slightly stale bread for better absorption and texture, preventing soggy or overly wet pudding.
- Prevent Dry Edges: Cover baking dish with foil during initial baking to maintain moisture and prevent hard, crusty edges.
- Control Custard Consistency: Gently press bread cubes into custard to ensure even saturation, avoiding dry spots or uneven texture.
- Customize Flavor Variations: Experiment with adding chopped nuts, different spices like cardamom, or alternative dried fruits to personalize the classic recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 383
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 183mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 109mg