Description
Make a rich, custardy bread pudding using stale bread, topped with a warm, buttery bourbon sauce. This is a classic Southern dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf (about 1 pound) day-old French bread or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted (for sauce)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (for sauce)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup bourbon (for sauce)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Place the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. If using raisins, sprinkle them over the bread.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Gently press the bread down to ensure all pieces absorb the liquid. Let stand for 20 minutes.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is golden brown. A knife inserted near the center should come out mostly clean.
- While the pudding bakes, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the brown sugar and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture bubbles, about 2 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream, bourbon, and vanilla extract until the sauce is smooth.
- Let the sauce cool slightly before serving. Serve the warm bread pudding drizzled generously with the bourbon sauce.
Notes
- Using day-old or slightly stale bread gives the pudding the best texture.
- You can soak the raisins in warm water or bourbon for 10 minutes before adding them to the dish for plumper fruit.
- For a thicker sauce, return it to low heat after adding the cream and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 150mg