Spiced French Bread Pudding Recipe ππ₯
Description: Indulge in the comforting flavors of our Spiced French Bread Pudding, a delightful dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. With hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and plump raisins, this recipe is sure to become a favorite among your family and friends. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply craving a sweet treat, this bread pudding will satisfy your dessert cravings with its rich and creamy texture.
- Servings: 12
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Calories: 341.5 per serving
- Rating: βββββ (based on 7 reviews)
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 7 | Eggs |
| 3 cups | Sugar |
| 3 cups | Milk |
| 1 3/4 tsp | Pure vanilla extract |
| 4 1/2 tsp | Cinnamon |
| 1 tsp | Nutmeg |
| 1/2 cup | Unsalted butter |
| 4 cups | French bread, cubed |
| 1/2 cup | Raisins, chopped or pureed |
| 1/2 tsp | Salt |
Instructions:
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Prepare Bread Cubes: Cut the French bread into 1-inch cubes and place them in an ungreased 13×9-inch pan. You can either dry the bread cubes in a warm oven for a couple of hours, toast them lightly in a 350Β°F oven, or toast them until light brown and dry. Set aside.
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Prepare Raisins: Chop or puree the raisins to your desired consistency.
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Mix Spices: In a plastic bag, sift or sieve together the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Shake the bag to mix the spices evenly.
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Prepare Custard Mixture: In a saucepan, heat the milk, butter, eggs, yolks, and raisins along with the sugar mixture over low heat. Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the eggs cook prematurely. Remove from heat if steam starts to appear.
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Add Vanilla: Once the mixture is heated and well combined, remove it from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract.
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Combine Custard and Bread: Pour the custard mixture over the dried bread cubes immediately after adding the vanilla. Ensure that all the bread cubes are evenly coated with the custard mixture. If desired, strain the mixture with a fine strainer to remove any raisins or egg chalazae.
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Soak Bread: Allow the custard to soak into the bread cubes until cooled, approximately 1 hour. Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure that the custard is evenly distributed. You can refrigerate the mixture for up to 12 hours at this stage if desired.
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Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350Β°F (175Β°C) in preparation for baking the bread pudding.
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Bake: Once the bread pudding has soaked and cooled, bake it in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is browned and the pudding begins to rise out of the pan.
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Variations: Get creative with your bread pudding by trying out these variations:
- Add a cup of toasted and chopped pecans or walnuts to the custard mixture.
- Experiment with different extracts or liquors to replace half a tablespoon of vanilla.
- Enhance the flavor by adding white, cinnamon, or chocolate chips to the custard.
- Make it richer by substituting half of the milk with heavy cream or half-and-half.
- Opt for a healthier version by using skim milk, omitting butter, using whole wheat bread, reducing sugar to 1 cup, and replacing eggs/yolks with egg substitute.
- Incorporate dried apple or banana slices into the custard mixture.
- Sweeten it up by using 1 cup of sugar and adding 1/2 cup of maple syrup.
- Swap out some of the granulated sugar for brown sugar to add depth of flavor.
- Serve with bourbon sauce, whipped cream, or ice cream for an extra decadent touch.
Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of this Spiced French Bread Pudding, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth any day of the week! Enjoy the rich blend of spices, creamy custard, and tender bread with every delightful bite.
