Description
Grandma’s Bread Pudding is a classic American dessert featuring day-old bread soaked in a rich custard of milk, cream, eggs, and warm spices. Baked until golden and tender, it’s the perfect comforting treat for any occasion, served warm with optional toppings like vanilla sauce or ice cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 cups day-old bread, cubed (such as French or brioche)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare the Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
- Arrange the Bread: Spread the cubed day-old bread evenly in the prepared baking dish to create the base for the pudding.
- Make the Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Add Raisins: Stir in the raisins if desired, which will add bursts of sweetness throughout the pudding.
- Combine Custard with Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, then gently press the bread down to help it absorb the liquid fully.
- Soak: Allow the bread and custard to soak together for 10–15 minutes, ensuring the bread is saturated.
- Add Butter Topping: Dot the top of the soaked bread mixture with small pieces of unsalted butter to add richness as it bakes.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the pudding is golden brown on top and the center is set and no longer jiggly.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread pudding cool slightly before serving warm. Optionally, serve with vanilla sauce, caramel, or a scoop of ice cream for an extra indulgent touch.
Notes
- Best served warm with a drizzle of vanilla sauce, caramel, or a scoop of ice cream.
- Raisins can be swapped out for chopped nuts or chocolate chips for variety.
- For added texture and flavor, use a mix of breads like sourdough and brioche.
