This easy old-fashioned bread pudding recipe is a delicious sweet treat you can enjoy any time of the day. Don't miss out on this delicious dessert that's guaranteed to satisfy your cravings!
It's a budget-friendly dessert that uses everyday ingredients, has a soft custard-like texture in the center and golden brown crusty edges, and with a splash of bourbon-soaked raisins - it will be a huge hit with adults!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
Bread pudding is a classic comfort food dessert that has stood the test of time! It is a budget-friendly sweet treat that home cooks have been making for over a hundred years with any leftover stale bread, an egg and milk mixture, and some spices.
This particular bread pudding recipe is an old-fashioned classic with a few unique touches, like bourbon-soaked raisins for extra flavor. It is a very simple and easy-to-make dessert that is sure to please the whole family.
It can be enjoyed in the morning, for lunch, or as an after-dinner dessert. The crunchy golden edges and custard-like consistency of the bread soaked in egg mixture spiced with vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon is utterly irresistible.
It's easy to make bread pudding for home cooks, and you can use any type of bread to make it - from challah or brioche to French bread.
You'll be surprised how delicious your stale bread can taste once it comes out of the oven! And if you need some more easy pudding inspirations, check out our French toast casserole.
🍽 Key Ingredients
The key to making the best bread pudding is to use stale or day-old bread, as it helps the pudding hold together when cooked in the casserole dish.
Bread - Make sure to use stale bread and not fresh bread for this recipe. Any type of old crusty bread will do.
Egg and milk mixture - To soak the bread and give the pudding its custardy consistency, a mixture of eggs, milk, and sugar is poured over it.
Spices - To provide the warm flavors that give the sweet treat its signature flavor, vanilla extract, allspice, and cinnamon are added to the egg mixture.
Raisins - Soaking the raisins in bourbon adds a unique flavor and moisture to the bread pudding.
Butter - Melted butter is brushed over the baking pan to prevent the bread from sticking during baking.
Substitutions
If you don't have the exact ingredients listed in your pantry, other options can be used to make this recipe.
Milk
Whole milk will add a creamier texture to your bread pudding, but semi-skimmed will work just as well. Instead of dairy milk, you could use almond milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk for a tropical twist.
Raisins
The great thing about bread pudding is you can use any dried fruit you have in your pantry. Cranberries, sultanas, dates, figs, and apricots are all great options to add a bit of sweetness.
Spices
If you don't have allspice, nutmeg makes a great substitute.
Sugar
You can use brown sugar or white sugar for this recipe. If you're looking for an alternative sweetener, 4 tablespoons of honey work just as well as sugar.
🔪 How to make
Making bread pudding is delicious yet surprisingly easy and will be ready in just a few steps. It's a great way to use up any leftover bread and pairs amazingly with homemade creme anglaise. Follow the steps below and helpful cooking tips to make this delicious dish!
Preparations
- Cut the stale bread into cubes and set aside.
- Soak the raisins in a bowl with the bourbon for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Put the cubed bread into a large bowl, pour the milk over, and crush the bread cubes with your hands until they have absorbed the milk.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs well, then add the sugar, vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon, mixing to combine.
Step 3
Pour the custard mixture over the soaked bread and stir in the bourbon-soaked raisins.
Tip: Pour the melted butter into the bottom of a casserole or baking dish and swirl it around to completely cover the bottom and the sides. Alternatively, you can use nonstick cooking spray.
Step 4
Pour in the bread mixture, pack it lightly, and bake for about 40 minutes until the edges start to brown and pull away from the sides of the baking dish.
Step 5
Remove the bread pudding from the oven.
Step 6
Slice it, and serve with freshly made creme anglaise, caramel sauce, vanilla sauce, bourbon sauce, or whipped cream.
💭 Cooking tips
Using fresh bread
If you only have fresh bread on hand, you can still use it by chopping it into cubes and baking it for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. The bread cubes should be dry and still pale - this will help the bread soak up the egg mixture without turning mushy. Try my artisan bread recipe for this dish.
Soaking the raisins
For extra flavor, soak the raisins overnight in the bourbon (you can use rum also). This will help the raisins plump up and add a unique flavor to your bread pudding.
Serve warm or chilled
Bread pudding can be served either warm out of the oven or chilled. If you prefer to serve it cold, let the bread pudding cool completely before slicing and serving.
📖 Recipe Variations
Bread pudding makes a delicious and comforting dessert, but it doesn't have to be the same each time. With a few simple changes, you can switch up the flavors and create new versions of this classic recipe. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Chocolate chip bread pudding
For a chocolate indulgent recipe, add 1 cup of dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips to the bread and egg mixture.
Apple cinnamon bread pudding
Stir in 2 peeled and diced Granny Smith apples and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the bread mixture, and swap half of the white sugar for half a cup of light brown sugar. Spread cinnamon honey butter over the casserole dish before pouring in the mixture.
Orange & nuts bread pudding
Soak the raisins in ½ cup of Grand Marnier or Triple Sec instead of bourbon to infuse them with orange liquor, and add the zest of 2 oranges and ⅓ cup of chopped walnuts or almonds to the mixture. Sprinkle some additional chopped nuts on top before baking for a crunchy topping.
🥗 What to serve with
Old-fashioned bread pudding is a delicious sweet treat that pairs perfectly with many accompaniments, like French toast, muffins, or pancakes. Here are some of our easy breakfast and lunch recipes to pair with your bread pudding recipe:
Cinnamon rolls
To keep the same warm flavors as your bread pudding, why not try baking these ultimate cinnamon rolls to accompany your bread pudding with a jug of creme anglaise.
Muffins
Muffins are a great way to start the day and are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Try these mouth-watering blueberry pancake muffins or cream cheese pumpkin muffins.
Pancakes
If you're looking for a sweet, savory breakfast dish to go along with your bread pudding, try our sour cream pancakes. They are easy to make and result in heavenly light-textured pancakes.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Why is my bread pudding soggy in the middle?
This usually happens when the bread hasn't had enough time to absorb the milk mixture. Make sure that you bake your bread pudding for at least 40 minutes, or until the edges become golden brown, and pull away from the sides of the pan. Also, try using day-old bread to help it absorb the mixture more easily.
Do I have to soak the raisins in bourbon?
No, you don't have to soak the raisins in bourbon to make this bread pudding recipe - you can simply add the raisins directly to the mixture. However, soaking them in the bourbon helps give a deeper flavor and makes them softer.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
Leftover bread pudding can be enjoyed later on cold or reheated for another memorable breakfast the following morning. Here's how to store any leftovers you may have.
Fridge - Leftover bread pudding can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Or transfer the contents to an airtight container.
Freezer - If you plan on freezing bread pudding, it is best to do so after it is baked and cooled. Bake the bread pudding in a throwaway aluminum tray, then cover it with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil before freezing for up to 3 months.
Reheating - To reheat the bread pudding, transfer it to a baking dish and bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
🍳 Related recipes
If you're a bread pudding fan, you'll love our 35 best sweet breakfast ideas, from brioche French toast to banana bread and blueberry biscuits. Or, get creative in the kitchen and try out our 37 fun things to bake for a sweet treat.
We've got recipes for cookies, muffins, cakes, and more. And why not also try my belgian waffle and buttermilk biscuits with some chocolate gravy on top! Yum!
👪 Serving size
The easy bread pudding recipe makes enough for 8-10 servings, depending on the size of your dish. If you love bread pudding as much as we do, you might want to make a double batch and freeze one for a quick and delicious breakfast later on.
Old-fashioned bread pudding is a classic comfort food that brings people together. With the right ingredients and a bit of patience, you can create this delicious dessert to enjoy as a decadent breakfast, an indulgent snack, or a sweet treat. Happy baking!
Love this breakfast recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort breakfast recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Bread Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups Bread - cut into 1"
- 4½ cups Milk - 1 liter
- 3 Eggs
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon Ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 cup Raisins - soaked overnight in bourbon
- 3 tablespoons Butter - melted
Instructions
Preparations
- Cut the stale bread into cubes and set aside.
- Soak the raisins in a bowl with the bourbon for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Cooking instructions
- Put the cubed bread into a large bowl, pour the milk over, and crush the bread cubes with your hands until they have absorbed the milk.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs well, then add the sugar, vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon, mixing to combine.
- Pour the custard mixture over the soaked bread and stir in the bourbon-soaked raisins.
- Pour the melted butter into the bottom of a casserole or baking dish and swirl it around to completely cover the bottom and the sides. Alternatively, you can use nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour in the bread mixture, pack it lightly, and bake for about 40 minutes until the edges start to brown and pull away from the sides of the baking dish.
- Remove the bread pudding from the oven.
- Slice it, and serve with freshly made creme anglaise, caramel sauce, vanilla sauce, bourbon sauce, or whipped cream.
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