Description

A rich, creamy, and easy-to-make dessert that transforms stale bread into a luxurious custard treat, served with a silky homemade vanilla sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

1 loaf stale bread (brioche or challah), cubed (12–16 cups / 300-400g)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream (for sauce)
2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (for sauce)
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Pinch of salt (for sauce)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cube the stale bread and place it loosely in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until uniform.
Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Press down gently to ensure all bread is soaked.
Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours in the fridge) to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set but still has a slight jiggle. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
While the pudding bakes, make the sauce: In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream, butter, sugar, vanilla, cornstarch, and salt.
Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it simmers and thickens slightly (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat.
Let the pudding cool for 10 minutes before serving warm with the vanilla sauce drizzled on top.

Notes

Use day-old or toasted stale bread to prevent mushiness. Do not skip the soaking time to ensure even texture. The vanilla sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice with sauce
Calories: 380
Sugar: 22
Sodium: 220
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 10
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 1
Protein: 8

Keywords: bread pudding, vanilla sauce, dessert, stale bread recipe, comfort food, easy baking, brioche pudding