This classic bread pudding is a delightful dessert made from stale bread, eggs, milk, and sugar, resulting in a rich and comforting dish. It’s an excellent way to use up leftover bread while creating a sweet treat.
The recipe is simple and can be customized with various add-ins like raisins, chocolate chips, or spices to enhance the flavor.
Understanding Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is a traditional dessert that transforms stale bread into a warm, comforting dish.
It combines simple ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar to create a custard-like texture that envelops the bread cubes.
This dish not only offers a delightful taste but also serves as a practical solution for leftover bread, turning what might be wasted into a delicious treat.
Key Ingredients
The foundation of bread pudding lies in its ingredients.
Stale bread is essential, as it absorbs the custard mixture without becoming overly soggy.
Common choices include white bread, brioche, or even croissants for a richer flavor.
Eggs and milk provide the custard base, while sugar sweetens the dish.
Spices like cinnamon and vanilla extract enhance the overall flavor, making each bite a delightful experience.
Preparation Steps
Preparing bread pudding is straightforward and can be done in just a few steps.
First, the stale bread is cubed and tossed with melted butter, ensuring each piece is coated.
Next, a custard mixture is whisked together, combining eggs, milk, sugar, and spices.
This mixture is then poured over the bread, allowing it to soak up all the flavors before baking.
Baking to Perfection
Baking is where the magic happens.
The mixture is transferred to a greased baking dish and placed in a preheated oven.
As it bakes, the top develops a golden-brown crust while the inside remains soft and custardy.
The aroma that fills the kitchen during this time is truly comforting, evoking memories of home-cooked meals.
Serving Suggestions
Once baked, bread pudding can be served warm or at room temperature.
A sprinkle of powdered sugar on top adds a touch of sweetness, while a dollop of whipped cream enhances its richness.
For an extra indulgence, consider drizzling caramel or chocolate sauce over the top.
This dessert is perfect for gatherings or as a cozy treat on a chilly evening.
Variations and Customizations
One of the joys of bread pudding is its versatility.
While the classic version is delightful, there are countless ways to customize it.
Add-ins like raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts can be mixed in for added texture and flavor.
Experimenting with different types of bread or spices can also yield unique results, making each batch a new experience.
Easy Bread Pudding Recipe
This bread pudding features cubes of bread soaked in a creamy custard mixture, baked until golden and set. The recipe takes about 1 hour from start to finish and serves 6 people.
Ingredients
- 6 cups stale bread, cubed
- 2 cups milk
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the Bread: In a large bowl, combine the cubed bread and melted butter. Toss to coat the bread evenly.
- Make the Custard: In another bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Combine: Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are soaked. If using, add raisins or chocolate chips and gently mix.
- Bake: Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the custard is set.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread pudding to cool slightly before serving. It can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature, optionally drizzled with a sauce or whipped cream.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Servings: 6 servings
- Calories: 250kcal
- Fat: 8g
- Protein: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 40g