Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce!
Old-fashioned bread pudding with vanilla, bourbon, or caramel sauce is an easy and simple homestead recipe to use up eggs, milk, and stale bread. Comfort food at its best – breakfast, dessert, or snack!
What do I do with my bread that is no longer fresh?
We are all aware of the fact that after a couple of days, your freshly baked bread is no longer fresh. In fact, it’s a little dry and crumbly or chewy. Sometimes even stale. And let’s face it folks, stale bread is kind of a big deal.
So, if you look around the world, you will discover that almost everyone has found some very clever ways to use up bread that has gone stale. Panzanella, panko, stratas, pain perdu, torrijas, croutons, bread crumbs, brown Bettys, or French toast. But, in my opinion, the queen of them all is the bread pudding. Well, sometimes.
Bread Pudding Recipe
Easy and simple homestead recipe to use up eggs, milk, and stale bread for a tasty end result. And when you finish it with bread pudding sauce, no one will be able to resist! It’s one of those back-to-basics recipes that you must have and people just adore. To start this recipe you’ll need some bread, hence the name bread pudding.
What bread can be used for bread pudding?
You DO want to use day-old bread or bread that’s dry and doesn’t have much moisture in it. It’s available by the loaf: You want the ability to cube or slice bread to the dimensions of your preference. That means unsliced bread is the way to go. They’re sturdy: bread pudding requires a soak in an egg and milk mixture to create the custardy final product. It should taste good! Of course, much of the flavor in either of these final dishes comes from the seasoning of the custard mixture and mix-ins, but the bread should taste good too. Enriched breads like challah and brioche are particular favorites, but you could make it with toasted white bread. If your bread is still fresh or not dried out, you can cube it into smaller pieces, place them on a baking sheet, pop it in the oven, and bake it for about 8-10 minutes. You don’t want to completely toast the bread, just dry it out.
Then you’ll whisk together some eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and spices. You’ll be using 4 whole eggs and 2 cups of milk, which may seem like a lot. As it bakes, the bread will absorb the liquid, so don’t worry. As for the spices, there’s just a little bit of ground cinnamon and nutmeg mixed in. Whatever you do, don’t leave them out! I feel like the spices, especially the nutmeg, really make this bread pudding.
I really love this bread pudding served with a huge scoop of ice cream and some sauce. But honestly, it’s delicious just by itself.
What You Need
4 cups (8 slices) cubed white bread
1/2 cup raisins
2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
How to Make It
Pudding:
Heat oven to 350°F.
Combine bread and raisins in a large bowl.
Combine milk and 1/4 cup butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted (4 to 7 minutes). Pour milk mixture over bread; let stand 10 minutes.
Stir in all remaining pudding ingredients.
Pour into a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until set in center.
Sauce:
Combine all sauce ingredients except vanilla in a 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil (5 to 8 minutes). Take off the heat and stir in vanilla.
To serve, spoon warm pudding into individual dessert dishes; serve with sauce. Store refrigerated.
Nutritional Highlights (Per Serving)
Calories, fat content, and other nutritional information would typically be listed here, but please consult a nutrition calculator with the specific brands and quantities you use for accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make bread pudding ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare it ahead and bake just before serving. Store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
What other toppings can I use?
Aside from the vanilla sauce, you can top it with caramel sauce, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Conclusion
Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce is a delightful way to transform stale bread into a comforting treat. I invite you to try this recipe and experience its warm, nostalgic flavors. If you do, please share your thoughts and any variations you tried. Happy baking!
