An old-school classic dessert that is both simple and comforting. Turning leftover bread into a heavenly treat, Southern bread pudding is a very popular dessert here in the South.
What you Need to Make Southern Bread Pudding:
A wonderful combination of hard or stale bread, custard and spices, bread pudding is best served warm with a vanilla sauce or a dollop of ice cream.
Southern Bread Pudding Ingredients
- Stale bread, torn into pieces
- Whole milk
- Heavy cream
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Butter, melted
- Vanilla extract
- Raisins (optional)
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
How to Make Southern Bread Pudding
This easy bread pudding recipe is pure comfort with a dash of delicious. It is very simple to make, and the perfect way to use up what’s left of stale bread.
- Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a casserole baking dish.
- Step 2: Prep the Bread
- Cut the bread into roughly 1″ pieces. Use either white or wheat, or both.
- Place the cubes of bread into your greased pan along with the raisins. Fill the baking dish to the top.
- Step 3: Make the Custard
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
- Pour this custard mixture over the soaked bread and gently fold it in until well combined.
- Step 4: Bake to Perfection
- Transfer the bread mixture to the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40-45 minutes and the top is golden brown.
- You can test for doneness by inserting a knife or toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when it is ready.
- Step 5: Serve Warm
- Once baked, let the bread pudding cool slightly before serving. Best enjoyed warm and can be served with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra decadence. Enjoy!
Why You’ll Love Southern Bread Pudding
- Southern Bread Pudding is the epitome of comfort food, offering a delicious way to use up any leftover bread.
- The custard soaked bread creates a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture with sweetness and spice.
- This bread pudding recipe only takes a handful of ingredients, making it a pantry-friendly and decadent dessert.
What is Bread Pudding?
I always thought it was a funny name as a child. Too funny. It was probably my least favorite dessert for many years. Just the name for some reason was a bit off-putting.
Now I not only love making bread pudding, I also very much crave its warm and comforting taste.
From what I understand, bread pudding originated in England, where they love to call all sorts of things ‘pudding’. Its really not too far a stretch, as traditional (and this) recipe use a heavy custard to meld with the bread and raisins. The result is a wonderfully rich flavor with a soft spongy texture. A great treat for the cooler months and holiday seasons!
Cooking Tips and Variations
Cooking Tips
- Customize the Recipe with Nuts and Fruits: Feel free to add chopped pecans, walnuts, or diced apples for extra texture and flavor.
- Bourbon Sauce: Serve the bread pudding with a drizzle of homemade bourbon sauce for an adult twist.
- Bread Selection: Experiment with different types of bread, like French bread or brioche to create different variations.
- Make It Ahead: You can prepare the bread pudding a day in advance and warm it up before serving.
Southern Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 5 cups stale bread, torn into pieces
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a casserole baking dish.
Prep the Bread
- Cut the bread into roughly 1″ pieces. Use either white or wheat, or both.
- Place the cubes of bread into your greased pan along with the raisins. Fill the baking dish to the top.
Make the Custard
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
- Pour this custard mixture over the soaked bread and gently fold it in until well combined.
Bake to Perfection
- Transfer the bread mixture to the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40-45 minutes and the top is golden brown.
- You can test for doneness by inserting a knife or toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when it is ready.
Serve Warm
- Once baked, let the bread pudding cool slightly before serving. Best enjoyed warm and can be served with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra decadence. Enjoy!
