Half and Half
In the United States, we have a dairy product called half and half, which is essentially a mixture of half heavy cream and half whole milk. If you can’t find half and half, combine 1/2 cup heavy cream with 1/2 cup whole milk. The great news is that bread pudding is incredibly easy to make at home. This delicious recipe comes together with just five ingredients. Then we whip up a three-ingredient brown sugar sauce that you will want to swim in. This is the perfect dessert!
Make the pudding. In a large bowl combine the eggs, half and half, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until all the eggs are fully broken down and the mixture is smooth. It might be helpful to use a handheld mixer, but it isn’t necessary. Add the bread. Add the dried bread to the egg mixture and toss to combine. Let the bread soak in the custard for 20 minutes. Bake the bread pudding. Pour the bread and custard mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the baking dish and the center looks set. Make the sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then whisk in the heavy cream, brown sugar, and vanilla until the sugar has completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and simmer for five to seven minutes or until it has thickened, stirring occasionally. Put it all together. Pour liberally over baked bread pudding. Enjoy!
It’s essential to use day-old or slightly stale bread, as it absorbs the custard more effectively. To dry bread, you can cut it up and leave it out overnight. Otherwise, you can cut it up and bake it at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. For the sake of clarity, you are looking for 10 ounces of fresh brioche bread. Then you will cut it, and dry it out. It will weigh less than 10 ounces once it is dried, so the weight here refers to the fresh bread. It seeps into the bread pudding, ensuring each bite is a delightful combination of sweet and savory, making it an absolute must-have for this classic dessert. Be sure to refer to the recipe card below for the full recipe and all measurements.
Knowing When Bread Pudding is Done
Look for the bread mixture to pull away from the pan it’s in and be set in the middle. Let the dish sit on the counter for 10 minutes before cutting into it to allow it to set.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover bread pudding covered in the refrigerator for up to four days. It can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the oven or microwave. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
