Decadent Bread Pudding with Warm Brandy Sauce
Indulge in this luscious Bread Pudding, enriched with creamy vanilla and subtle spices, perfect for a cozy dessert. Made with day-old French bread, this recipe incorporates plump raisins, and you have the option to use either brandy for a delightful kick or sweet apple juice for a non-alcoholic version. The warm brandy sauce adds a velvety finish, elevating this classic comfort food to a new level. With simple ingredients and an easy preparation method, this bread pudding is sure to impress at any gathering or family meal. Serve it warm, and enjoy each bite of its rich, custardy texture paired with the luscious sauce.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
raisins
1/2 cup (soaked in brandy or apple juice)
brandy or apple juice
1/4 cup (for soaking raisins)
butter
1/4 cup (melted, divided)
eggs
4 (lightly beaten)
milk
1 cup (whole or 2% milk)
pouring cream
1 cup (heavy cream)
brown sugar
1 cup (packed tightly)
vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (pure vanilla extract)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (to enhance flavor)
nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon (freshly ground)
French bread
1 loaf (day-old, cut into 1-inch cubes)
brown sugar (for sauce)
1/2 cup (packed tightly)
cornstarch
6 teaspoons (for thickening the sauce)
cold water
1 cup (for making the sauce)
butter (for sauce)
3 teaspoons (for enriching the sauce)
brandy or vanilla extract (for sauce)
2 teaspoons (to flavor the sauce)
salt (for sauce)
1 pinch (for seasoning)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
Grease a 2-1/2 quart shallow baking dish with a tablespoon of melted butter.
3
In a small saucepan, combine the raisins and either the brandy or apple juice, and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
4
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, milk, pouring cream, packed brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and freshly ground nutmeg until the mixture is smooth.
5
Stir in the 3 tablespoons of melted butter along with the soaked raisin mixture, mixing well to combine.
6
Gently fold in the cubed French bread, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes, allowing the bread to absorb the custard mixture.
7
Transfer the soaked bread mixture into the greased baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
8
Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
9
While the pudding is baking, prepare the warm brandy sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar, 6 teaspoons of cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Add the cold water and stir well.
10
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes until thickened.
11
Remove from heat and stir in the 3 teaspoons of butter and 2 teaspoons of brandy (or vanilla extract) until melted and smooth.
12
Serve the warm brandy sauce over individual portions of the bread pudding.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of this recipe?
The recipe is for Decadent Bread Pudding with Warm Brandy Sauce.
What type of bread should be used for the pudding?
The recipe calls for a loaf of day-old French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes.
At what temperature should the oven be preheated?
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
How long does the bread pudding need to bake?
Bake the pudding uncovered for 35-40 minutes.
How do I know when the bread pudding is done?
The pudding is finished when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Can this recipe be made without alcohol?
Yes, you can substitute apple juice for brandy when soaking the raisins and use vanilla extract instead of brandy for the sauce.
What ingredients are used to soak the raisins?
The raisins are soaked in 1/4 cup of brandy or apple juice.
How long should the bread cubes soak in the custard before baking?
Let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
What size baking dish is required?
A 2-1/2 quart shallow baking dish is needed.
What kind of milk is recommended for the custard?
You can use either whole milk or 2% milk.
What type of cream is used in the recipe?
The recipe uses 1 cup of pouring cream, also known as heavy cream.
How many eggs are in the pudding?
The recipe requires 4 lightly beaten eggs.
What spices provide the subtle flavor in the pudding?
The recipe uses vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg.
How do I prepare the raisins before adding them to the bread?
Combine raisins with brandy or juice in a saucepan, bring to a gentle boil, then remove from heat and cool slightly.
What are the components of the warm brandy sauce?
The sauce consists of brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cold water, butter, and brandy or vanilla extract.
How is the brandy sauce thickened?
The sauce is thickened by stirring cornstarch, sugar, and water over medium heat until it boils.
How long should the sauce boil?
The mixture should boil while stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.
When should the butter be added to the sauce?
The butter should be stirred in after removing the sauce from the heat.
How much brown sugar is used for the sauce itself?
The sauce requires 1/2 cup of tightly packed brown sugar.
What is the texture of the finished bread pudding?
It has a rich, custardy texture paired with a velvety sauce.
How should the dish be greased?
Grease the dish with one tablespoon of melted butter.
How many teaspoons of cornstarch are in the sauce?
The sauce uses 6 teaspoons of cornstarch.
How much butter is added to the pudding custard?
Stir 3 tablespoons of melted butter into the custard mixture.
Is the pudding served warm or cold?
The bread pudding and the sauce should both be served warm.
How much salt is used in the pudding?
The recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon of salt in the pudding base.
Does the sauce contain salt?
Yes, a pinch of salt is added to the sauce for seasoning.
What type of sugar is in the bread pudding?
1 cup of packed brown sugar is used in the bread pudding.
What is the total number of ingredients in this recipe?
There are 17 ingredients used in total between the pudding and the sauce.
What are some of the tags associated with this dish?
Tags include dessert, comfort food, elegant dessert, and holiday treat.
How much water is needed for the sauce?
The sauce requires 1 cup of cold water.