Description
Whether you’re planning a cozy family dinner or looking for a classic dessert to share, this bread pudding will hit the spot. The best part? It’s made with simple ingredients, but the flavors are rich and indulgent. Let’s dive into why you’ll love this recipe and how to make it step-by-step!
Ingredients
- 6 cups of day-old bread, cubed (French bread or any sturdy loaf)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups milk (or half-and-half for a richer pudding)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted (for drizzling)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. This will ensure the pudding doesn’t stick and allows for easy serving.
2. Cube the Bread
Cut the day-old bread into 1-inch cubes. If your bread is fresh, you can lightly toast the cubes in the oven for 5-10 minutes to dry them out. Place the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
3. Prepare the Custard
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth. This mixture will create the rich, custardy base for the bread pudding.
4. Soak the Bread
Pour the custard mixture over the cubed bread, making sure all the bread is well-soaked. Gently press down on the bread with a spoon to ensure it absorbs the custard. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so the bread can fully soak up the liquid.
5. Drizzle with Butter
Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the soaked bread cubes. This adds a delicious richness and helps the pudding brown beautifully.
6. Bake
Bake the bread pudding in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. The bread pudding should be set but still soft in the middle.
7. Cool and Serve
Let the bread pudding cool for a few minutes before serving. It’s delicious served warm, but also tastes great at room temperature.
Notes
Use Day-Old Bread: Stale bread absorbs the custard better, creating a perfect balance of texture.
Don’t Skip the Soak: Let the bread cubes sit in the custard for at least 10 minutes before baking to ensure they soak up all that delicious flavor.
Optional Add-Ins: Feel free to customize your bread pudding with chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even a splash of rum or bourbon for extra flavor.
Serve with Sauce: A simple vanilla or caramel sauce elevates this dessert to a new level.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g