Description
Grandma’s old-fashioned bread pudding with vanilla sauce whispers comfort from generations past. Warm, custardy layers meld classic comfort with sweet nostalgia, inviting you to savor each spoonful of pure homemade delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups (350g) day-old bread, cubed (French bread, brioche, or challah)
- 4 large eggs
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) whole milk
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Spices and Flavoring:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- ½ cup (80 grams) raisins (optional)
Vanilla Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking vessel by thoroughly greasing a 9×13-inch dish and setting the oven temperature to 350F (175C).
- Transform bread cubes into a foundation layer within the prepared dish, ensuring even distribution across the surface.
- Craft a luxurious custard by vigorously whisking milk, sugars, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until the mixture achieves a smooth, harmonious consistency.
- Gently cascade the custard over the bread cubes, allowing each piece to absorb the rich liquid. Press down softly with a spatula to encourage complete saturation.
- Rest the pudding mixture for 10-15 minutes, permitting the bread to thoroughly soak up the decadent custard.
- If desired, scatter raisins across the surface, nestling them gently into the bread mixture.
- Transfer the dish to the preheated oven, baking for 45-50 minutes until the top transforms into a golden-brown landscape and the center sets firmly.
- While the pudding bakes, create the vanilla sauce by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Incorporate sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a delicate pinch of salt into the melted butter. Whisk continuously until the sauce thickens and develops a silky texture.
- Remove the bread pudding from the oven and let it rest briefly.
- Serve the warm pudding in individual bowls, generously drizzling the velvety vanilla sauce over the top.
Notes
- Customize bread selection by using day-old challah, brioche, or French bread for richer texture and deeper flavor profiles.
- Let bread sit in custard mixture longer for more intense moisture absorption, ensuring every bite is custardy and delicious.
- Experiment with alternative mix-ins like chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips to personalize the classic dessert.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace traditional bread with gluten-free bread cubes and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 110mg