For 2015 I have set myself some goals; learn how to sew an apron, take more hikes, photograph an amazing sunset, give back to others, enjoy my new granddaughter and search for and make bread pudding recipes. Bread pudding is one of the comfort foods that takes us back to our grandmother’s kitchen. Bread pudding is just the combination of bread with an egg custard mixture which is then refrigerated for several hours and baked, but the combinations can be endless. You can use Challah bread, croissants, french bread and brioche bread. You can add the flavors of chocolate, sweet potato, vegetables, fruits and liqueurs. Do not forget the sauce on top; whiskey, vanilla, rum, caramel the list is endless. I have set myself a goal to find and try two new bread pudding recipes each month and of course add some of my Fresh From Oregon taste to them. Lets start off the first one with an Old Fashion Bread Pudding recipe that will please everyone in your family! Read more about the history of bread pudding here…
Old Fashion Bread Pudding
7 large eggs
3 1/2 cups whole milk
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound loaf of challah bread or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup raisins (optional)
Vanilla Sauce ~ recipe below
Butter a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish, set aside. Whisk eggs in large bowl until blend. Add milk, sugar, whipping cream, vanilla and cinnamon; whisk until blended well. Stir in the cubed bread making sure all the bread has soaked in some of the egg mixture. If adding raisins mix in at this time. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pudding uncovered until puffed and golden, about 1 hour. Cool slightly (pudding will fall).
While cooling, prepare the vanilla sauce.
1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 cup of heavy cream or whole milk
1 tablespoon of all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk all other ingredients in except the vanilla; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Remove from heat, add vanilla, whisk and drizzle over bread pudding.
