Description
Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding is a classic, comforting dessert made with day-old bread soaked in a rich custard of milk, cream, eggs, and spices, then baked until golden and set. This nostalgic recipe offers a warm, creamy texture with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, perfect for a cozy family gathering or holiday treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread:
- 6 cups day-old bread, cubed (about 1-inch pieces)
Custard:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 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
Extras:
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Bread and Custard: Place the cubed day-old bread into a large mixing bowl. In a separate 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 well combined.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes. Gently toss until all the bread is evenly coated. Let the mixture sit for 10–15 minutes, allowing the bread to absorb the custard fully.
- Add Raisins: If desired, stir in the raisins evenly throughout the soaked bread mixture.
- Assemble and Bake: Transfer the bread and custard mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 45–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set in the center.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread pudding from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy it warm, optionally topped with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Day-old or slightly stale bread absorbs the custard best for ideal texture.
- French bread, brioche, or challah are excellent bread choices for this recipe.
- For variety, add chopped pecans or swap raisins for dried cranberries to change the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
