Best Marthas Bread Pudding Recipes

KRIS KRINGLE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Brush two 1 1/2-quart ovenproof bowls with butter, and sprinkle with vanilla sugar; tap out excess. Bring Armagnac, dried fruit, and prunes to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fruit has softened and absorbed the liquid, about 10 minutes. Coarsely chop fruit.
• Bring cream, half and half, vanilla sugar, cinnamon, vanilla beans and seeds, and zest to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Lightly beat egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, gradually ladle half the hot-cream mixture into the yolks. Pour yolk mixture into saucepan with remaining cream mixture. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly and scraping sides of pan, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Pass custard through a fine sieve into a large bowl; discard solids.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In another large bowl, combine brioche cubes and chopped fruit, reserving 1/2 cup fruit. Pour in custard; toss to combine. Divide bread mixture between prepared bowls. Top each with half the reserved fruit. Sprinkle with vanilla sugar. Place a parchment round in water to dampen and transfer to top of pudding bowl to cover. Use a rubber band to secure, and tie with kitchen twine. Repeat process with second bowl. Let stand until bread has soaked up liquid, about 20 minutes.
• Set bowls in deep roasting pan. Transfer pan to oven; add enough boiling water to come 3 inches up sides of bowls. Bake 1 hour. Uncover; bake until set, about 30 minutes more. Serve warm or at room temperature, with sour lemon sauce. Puddings can be refrigerated up to 3 days; let cool completely before covering with plastic wrap. If desired, reheat in a 350-degree oven, just until warm.

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 11-by-7-inch (or 9-inch square) baking dish; set aside. Toast bread (in the oven or toaster) until lightly crisped.
• In a medium saucepan, combine milk, chocolate, and butter; place over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes.
• Tear bread into large pieces (about 4 or 5 per slice); scatter evenly in prepared baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla. Whisk in warm milk mixture until combined. Pour over bread.
• Bake until pudding has puffed and is firm, about 25 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes, and dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

APPLE PIE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack set in the lower third of the oven. Lightly butter a 9-inch pie plate; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together cream, milk, and eggs. Add brioche and gently toss to coat. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes to soak.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, spices, and salt; stir until smooth and well combined. Add apples and toss to coat.
• Gently fold apple mixture into the bread mixture until well combined. Spoon bread and apple mixture into prepared pie plate, then pour remaining liquid over top just to fill to the edge of the dish (you may not use all of it). Sprinkle with turbinado sugar, if desired.
• Bake, covered with parchment-lined foil, for 45 minutes (with a parchment-lined baking sheet placed at the bottom of the oven to catch drips). Uncover and continue to bake until bread pudding is golden brown and set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes more. Let sit on a wire rack 10 to 20 minutes before serving with ice cream. Bread pudding is best served warm, but can be kept refrigerated, tightly covered, up to 3 days.

BEST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with the butter.
• Toast the bread cubes on a baking sheet until they start to dry and harden, about 20 minutes. Set aside. Raise the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Whisk together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl. Add the bread to the bowl and stir until completely coated. Cover and let soak for about 30 minutes, pushing the bread down occasionally so that all the cubes are soaked. Meanwhile, pour hot water over the raisins, if using, and soak for 10 minutes. Once plumped, drain the raisins, add to the bowl of bread and gently toss.
• Pour the bread mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake until the custard is set and the top is golden brown, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, at room temperature or cold.

BANANA-RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack set in lower third. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup sugar until combined; whisk in milk. Add bread, bananas, and raisins; toss gently to combine. Set aside to let bread absorb liquid, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish; sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of bread pudding comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

MINI BOURBON BREAD PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Make the puddings: Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack set in the lower third of the oven. Lightly butter six 8-ounce ramekins (3 1/2-inch-by-2-inch); set aside.
• Place bread in a large bowl. Add cream and milk and toss to soak. Set aside at room temperature.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add both sugars and vanilla; stir until smooth and well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Whisk in butter mixture until smooth and well combined. Add raisins and pour over bread, tossing until well combined.
• Evenly divide bread mixture between prepared ramekins, making sure liquid covers the bread. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet and cover with parchment paper-lined aluminum foil. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until bread puddings are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Make the glaze: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add bourbon and confectioners' sugar, stirring until incorporated. Add cream and mix until smooth. Serve bread puddings with glaze. Bread pudding is best served warm but can be kept refrigerated, tightly covered, for up to 4 days.

BEST EVER BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Whisk together the first 10 ingredients until blended. Gently stir in bread. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. or 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar; let stand until bread is softened, about 15 minutes. Bake until puffed and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes., Meanwhile, for sauce, melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar; stir until dissolved. Gradually stir in cream. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened, 15-20 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add vanilla, sea salt and baking soda, stirring well. Serve sauce with warm bread pudding.