This recipe from Chef Gason Nelson, chef to celebrities and athletes in New Orleans, is the perfect recipe for a simple but decadent dessert or weekend brunch treat. Simply put this Bread Pudding in the oven and smells of cinnamon, vanilla and allspice will warm up the whole house.
What Is Bread Pudding?
Bread pudding is a timeless and comforting dessert, rooted in culinary traditions worldwide. This indulgent treat is one of the best examples of peasant food, making use of stale or day-old bread. This recipe is perfect for anyone looking to give a second life to that loaf that might otherwise go to waste.
The bread is soaked in a rich mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, and spices like vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg. Additional ingredients, like raisins, chocolate chips, or fruits, can be added for extra texture and taste. Once baked, bread pudding is custardy, sweet and has the fight-after-bits of golden crust. Served warm or at room temperature, bread pudding is often accompanied by a drizzle of sauce making it even more fabulous. Whether enjoyed as a rustic dessert, dressed up for a fancy affair, or make for a comforting Sunday morning breakfast treat, bread pudding remains a cherished classic in the world of desserts.
What is the History of Bread Pudding?
While the exact roots of bread pudding are difficult to pinpoint, it's believed the modern day concept of bread pudding originated in Europe in the 11th century. Cooks were looking to find ways to use leftover bread and with the high cost of ingredients and scarcity of food, it's believed this version included only bread, spices, sugar and water. Later eggs and milk were introduced to the recipe. With such simple ingredients, the recipe coined the nickname "poor man's pudding." As history often repeats, it's these peasant dishes that become some of the world's most popular. Bread Pudding can be found throughout the world with different variations. In Canada it's common to enjoy with a drizzle of maple syrup, in Brazil they enjoy "pudim de pão" which is made with condensed milk, and in Mexico they feast on a similar dish called Capirotada, which is traditionally served on Good Friday.
The Best Cinnamon & Spice Bread Pudding Recipe on the Internet
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, more for greasing pan
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
⅓ cup sugar
½ loaf French bread or brioche, cut into 2-inch cubes (about 5 to 6 cups)
3 eggs, beaten
Pinch salt
METHOD
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small saucepan over low heat, warm milk, butter, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, sugar and salt.
Continue cooking just until butter melts; cool.
Butter a 4-to-6-cup baking dish and fill it with cubed bread.
Add eggs to cooled milk mixture and whisk; pour mixture over bread.
Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until custard is set but still a little wobbly and edges of bread have browned.
Eat as is, or top with a dusting of powdered sugar or rum sauce
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