Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Why This Recipe is a Must-Try

• Comfort Food at Its Best: Bread pudding delivers a satisfying texture and rich flavors that evoke memories of home-cooked meals.
• Versatility: This recipe can be customized with various bread types and additions, making it perfect for using up leftovers.
• Elegant Yet Simple: The vanilla sauce adds a gourmet touch to this humble dessert, making it suitable for both casual and formal occasions.

Ingredients Overview

For the Bread Pudding:

• Stale Bread (white, French, or brioche): 4 cups cubed
• Large Eggs: 4
• Milk: 2 cups
• Granulated Sugar: 1 cup
• Unsalted Butter (melted): ¼ cup
• Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
• Ground Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon
• Ground Nutmeg: ¼ teaspoon
• Optional: Raisins or dried currants: ¼ cup
• A pinch of salt

For the Vanilla Sauce:

• Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (1 stick)
• Heavy Cream: 1 cup
• Granulated Sugar: ½ cup
• Vanilla Extract: ½ teaspoon

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Prepare the Bread Pudding:

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the Bread: Cube the bread and place it in a large mixing bowl. For a crispier top, lightly toast the bread first.
3. Mix the Custard: In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Combine: Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are soaked. Stir in raisins or currants if using.
5. Bake: Transfer to a greased 9×9 inch baking dish and bake for 45-55 minutes until set and golden. A knife inserted should come out clean.

Make the Vanilla Sauce:

6. Cook the Sauce: While the pudding bakes, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add heavy cream and sugar, stirring until smooth.
7. Finish the Sauce: Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Serving:

8. Cool and Serve: Let the bread pudding cool slightly, then slice and serve warm drizzled with vanilla sauce.

Tips for Perfect Bread Pudding

• Bread Type: The type of bread used can affect the texture; denser bread will give a firmer pudding.
• Custard Soak: Allow the bread to soak in the custard mixture for at least 10 minutes before baking for richer flavor.
• Sauce Consistency: For a thicker sauce, reduce the cream slightly before adding sugar and butter.