Traditional Custard Bread Pudding

🕒 Prep: 10 min
🔥 Cook: 50 min
🍽 Serves: 6
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This Traditional Custard Bread Pudding is a comforting classic that brings together simple ingredients to create a rich, satisfying dessert. Perfect for using up day-old bread, it’s a delightful treat that’s sure to warm your soul.

Ingredients for Traditional Custard Bread Pudding

Bread: The star of the show. Use day-old bread for the best texture; it absorbs the custard without falling apart.

Eggs: These provide the custard with its creamy structure. Essential for binding everything together.

Whole milk and heavy cream: These combine to create a rich, smooth custard. The cream adds a touch of luxury.

Sugar: Sweetens the custard just enough without overpowering the spices.

Vanilla extract: Adds depth and a warm aroma to the pudding.

Cinnamon and nutmeg: These spices give the pudding its cozy, familiar flavor. A little goes a long way.

Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness.

Raisins: Add bursts of sweetness and a chewy texture.

Butter: Melted on top for a golden finish and added richness.

Tips & Tricks

  • If your bread is too fresh, toast it lightly to dry it out before using.
  • Feel free to add chopped nuts or chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor.
  • Use a mix of bread types for a more complex flavor. White, whole grain, or even brioche work well.

Serving Suggestions

This pudding is wonderful served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. For a more decadent option, drizzle with caramel or a spoonful of fruit compote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, prepare it up to the baking step, cover, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving for best results.
What if I don't have heavy cream?
You can substitute with more whole milk, but the pudding will be slightly less rich.
Can I use different spices?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with spices like cardamom or ginger for a unique twist.

Traditional Custard Bread Pudding Recipe Walkthrough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. This way, it’ll be ready to go once you’ve assembled everything.

Grease a 9x9 inch baking dish with some butter. This prevents the pudding from sticking and helps it brown nicely.

Take your day-old bread and cut it into cubes. Spread these evenly in your prepared baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until you have a smooth, well-combined mixture.

Pour this custard mixture over the bread cubes. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure the bread soaks up the liquid.

Sprinkle the raisins evenly over the top. They’ll plump up as they bake, adding little pockets of sweetness.

Drizzle the melted butter over the entire dish. This helps the top brown beautifully and adds extra flavor.

Let the dish sit for about 10 minutes. This gives the bread time to fully absorb the custard.

Pop it into your preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. You’re looking for a golden brown top and a set custard.

Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Effortlessly transforms leftover bread into a delicious dessert.
  • A perfect balance of creamy custard and spiced flavors.
  • Simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
  • Customizable with your favorite add-ins like nuts or chocolate chips.
  • Bakes in under an hour, making it a quick yet impressive treat.

Ingredients

4 cups day-old bread, cubed
3 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a 9x9 inch baking dish with butter.
3. Spread the cubed bread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
5. Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes, pressing down slightly to ensure the bread absorbs the liquid.
6. Sprinkle raisins over the top.
7. Drizzle the melted butter over the entire dish.
8. Let it sit for 10 minutes to soak up the custard mixture.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
10. Remove from oven and let it cool slightly before serving.

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