Description
Classic bread pudding from Louisiana combines stale bread, eggs, and warm spices into a comforting Southern dessert. Creamy vanilla sauce drizzled over the top creates a rich, indulgent finish you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml) day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (473 ml) milk
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 3 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter, melted
- ⅓ cup raisins (optional)
- ½ cup (113 g) butter
- ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Custard Creation: Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth and fully integrated, forming a rich liquid base.
- Bread Infusion: Submerge bread cubes into the custard mixture, ensuring complete saturation. Gently fold in raisins and melted butter, allowing the bread to absorb the liquid for 10 minutes while distributing ingredients evenly.
- Baking Process: Transfer the moistened bread mixture to the prepared casserole dish, smoothing the surface. Bake for 45-55 minutes until the top turns golden-brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Vanilla Sauce Preparation: While the pudding bakes, combine heavy cream, sugar, butter, and brown sugar in a saucepan. Stir continuously over medium heat until the mixture thickens and coats a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Serving: Allow the pudding to cool slightly, then generously drizzle the warm vanilla sauce over the top before serving.
Notes
- Bread Absorption Technique: Let bread cubes soak completely in custard mixture for optimal texture and flavor infusion, ensuring each piece becomes a delectable, creamy morsel.
- Golden-Brown Precision: Watch pudding closely during final baking stages to achieve perfect caramelized top without burning, using toothpick test as reliable doneness indicator.
- Sauce Consistency Mastery: Stir vanilla sauce continuously to prevent scorching and create smooth, velvety texture that elegantly coats the back of a spoon.
- Temperature Balance: Allow pudding to rest briefly after baking, enabling it to set and stabilize before serving, which enhances overall structural integrity and serving experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg