Description
Delightful croissant bread pudding melds French pastry elegance with classic comfort dessert traditions. Rich custard-soaked croissants create a luxurious sweet finale that delights dessert enthusiasts you’ll savor to the last delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large croissants (day-old preferred), roughly torn
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups (473 ml/16 fl oz) heavy cream
- 1 cup (237 ml/8 fl oz) whole milk
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
- Powdered sugar
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- Fresh berries
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Preparation: Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and create a smooth release surface.
- Croissant Layering: Tear croissants into irregular, rustic pieces, dispersing them evenly across the buttered dish to build a textural foundation.
- Custard Creation: Whisk eggs until pale and frothy, then blend with heavy cream, milk, white and brown sugars, vanilla extract, and a hint of ground cinnamon to form a luxurious, smooth custard mixture.
- Saturation Process: Pour the silky custard over the croissant pieces, gently pressing to ensure complete absorption, allowing the bread to soak and infuse with flavors for 10-15 minutes.
- Baking Transformation: Place the dish in an oven preheated to 350°F, baking until the surface turns a deep golden-bronze and the center maintains a gentle jiggle, approximately 35-40 minutes.
- Resting and Finishing: Let the pudding settle for 5-10 minutes to stabilize its structure and concentrate flavors, then garnish with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar or a lavish caramel sauce drizzle.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Texture: Ensure croissants are slightly stale or day-old for optimal absorption without turning mushy, creating a perfect balance between crisp edges and custardy interior.
- Customize Flavor Variations: Experiment by adding chocolate chips, dried fruits like raisins or cranberries, or a sprinkle of toasted nuts to elevate the basic recipe and introduce personal flair.
- Temperature Precision: Allow custard mixture to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before baking, enabling even heat distribution and preventing potential temperature shock that could lead to uneven cooking.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version, use alternative sweeteners like maple syrup, or replace eggs with a plant-based binding agent for vegan-friendly modifications.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 173 mg