Adapted from Simple Bread Pudding by Mark Bittman
Who doesn't love a simple, comforting dessert-bread pudding!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bread., eggs, Simple Bread Pudding
- 2 cups milk replace 1/2 with half-half for a richer pudding
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick) more for greasing pan
- 1/2 cup sugar for a sweeter pudding use 3/4 cup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 loaf sweet egg bread like challah or brioche cut into 1.5-2-inch cubes (about 5 to 6 cups)
- 2 eggs, beatened Like itt custardy? Add an extra egg
Optional Fruit Add-Ins Replace 1/2 cup of bread with any of the following
- 1 apple peeled and cored, cut into 1/2 inch dice. Granny Smith for tart, Golden Delicious for sweet.
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a 2-quart baking dish and fill it with cubed bread (8x8 or 9x9 square pan will work)
Toast cubed bread pieces in 350 degrees oven for 10 minutes. This is an optional step. If you do toast bread, definitely soak the cubes before baking.
In a small saucepan over low heat, warm milk, butter, vanilla, sugar and salt. Continue cooking just until butter melts; cool.
Add eggs to cooled milk mixture and whisk; pour mixture over bread. Let sit for abot 30 minutes so the bread can soak up the egg mixture. This makes a more custard like pudding.
Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until custard is set but still a little wobbly and edges of bread have browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tweaks
Like cinnamon add 1/4 teaspoon to egg mixture.
In place of fruit use 1/4-1/2 cup jam or preserves, dot pudding, distributing evenly
Sprinkle bread pudding with cinnamon before baking. For a crunchy top, sprinkle top with 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar before baking. (To make your own cinnamon sugar, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 2 T cinnamon)
Golden raisins work well in this bread pudding too!