This old fashioned bread pudding shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HugtheMess #cbias #CollectiveBias
Old Fashioned Bread Pudding
One of my favorite recipes to make with my kids is bread pudding. They love to measure and pour and stir, and when they get to scoop up the soaked pieces of bread, they get giddy over the fun of making a big mess.
Of course, it helps to know ahead of time that you've got some excellent supplies to clean up that mess! That's why I'm using Huggies Wipes from Walmart to make cleanup a snap.
For today's bread pudding project with the kids, I wanted a simple, unadorned bread pudding recipe. A short list of ingredients, easy instructions, and amazing results.
I have several bread pudding recipes, but I decided to do a little reading and recipe testing to figure out the very best old fashioned bread pudding recipe.
Recipe Notes: What Makes a Bread Pudding Old Fashioned
First, I had to tackle the meaning of "old fashioned." What makes a bread pudding old fashioned?
I learned a lot from articles about the history of bread pudding. This article talks about the origin of bread pudding in the 11th and 12th centuries.
You can also learn about the British version, called bread and butter pudding, from Wikipedia. Or check out this list of international variations on bread pudding. You'll also enjoy seeing this 18th century recipe for sippet pudding, which is historic American version of bread pudding.
There are several qualifications that make a bread pudding old fashioned.
- There should be some butter involved, but the finished pudding shouldn't be greasy.
- There should be an option that explains how to add raisins if you want them.
- Usually, old fashioned recipes for bread pudding call for stale bread.
- Most older recipes do not call for a water bath (also known as bain marie), a slightly trickier step that involves placing the pan of bread pudding in a second pan of water that has been preheated in the oven. A water bath cooks the bread pudding more gently and helps prevent the eggs from curdling from the heat. There is a trick to go around this, so keep reading.
- Nutmeg is essential. Cinnamon and vanilla are optional.
I tested several recipes that claimed to be old-fashioned. One ended up being too greasy (too much butter). One curdled (too long cooking time). So I made notes and adjusted my techniques and ingredients to come up with today's recipe.
It's a very old fashioned bread pudding, with the classic flavor and texture you would expect, and none of the drawbacks of other recipes.
Plus, this bread pudding recipe has a handy oven temperature trick that you can use for any bread pudding without a water bath to prevent curdling. Starting with a high temperature brings the pudding quickly up in temperature, then lowering the oven temperature keeps it from overcooking. This trick speeds up cooking time and prevents curdling.
To demonstrate this recipe tutorial, I set up on my kitchen table.
Our kitchen table is a vintage table from the 1940s that we found secondhand a few years ago. My mother and I carted it home from several hours away, and it's been a treasured piece ever since. In a big splurge, my husband and I ordered replica vintage chairs to match it.
When I cook with my kids, they gather round our table by kneeling on the chairs so they can reach the ingredients and the mixing bowl. Of course, things get messy fast as the ingredients fly and the mixing bowl is jostled!
Our special table and our enthusiastically stirring little ones make me think ahead about how to keep everything and everyone clean.
That's why I like to keep something handy for cleaning that's gentle but thorough. As a parent of two, I learned years ago that baby wipes are excellent for cleaning up around the house.
Whether my kids get a little custard on their hands, or whether the table gets a little custard bath, Huggies Wipes make it easy to clean up.
I used two different kinds of Huggies Wipes that I picked up in the personal care aisle at Walmart. Huggies One & Done are perfect for tougher messes, like those splashes of custard that land on the table. Huggies Simply Clean are well suited for wiping off any sticky stuff that gets on your hands, or on your little ones' hands.
I had my Huggies wipes standing at the ready before we even got started. Place them near your preparation area, whether it's the kitchen table or the kitchen counter, when you start cooking with your children. Then you'll be completely prepared!
Old Fashioned Bread Pudding
Old fashioned bread pudding is made with just a few simple ingredients. This recipe is foolproof because of the handy oven temperature trick!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 6 cups bread chunks (you can use stale or fresh but stale is more old fashioned)
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 eggs
Optional Ingredients
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 F. Put the butter in a 9 inch cake pan or pie plate, and place the pan in the oven for a couple of minutes to melt the butter.
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Remove the pan and swirl the butter evenly over the bottom of the pan.
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Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon,vanilla, eggs. Whisk briefly until just combined.
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Add the bread chunks to the mixing bowl. If you are using raisins, add them now as well.
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Stir until well saturated with liquid. Use your fingers to massage the mixture and break up any large chunks.
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Gently place the soaked bread chunks in the pan, on top of the butter/sugar mixture. Fill in any gaps in the bread and gently press down on the top to make it even. Pour any remaining liquid evenly over the top.
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Place the pan in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 F, then turn the oven down to 300 F and bake another 30 minutes. The bread pudding is done when the temperature in the middle reaches 175 F, or when the center jiggles but does not slosh.
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Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Serve slightly warm, or let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Also tastes wonderful chilled.
Recipe Notes
For a British flavor, add the zest of one orange, and use ½ cup sultanas (golden raisins) instead of regular raisins.
Try my Upside Down Apple Bread Pudding for a real treat!
This looks delicious. I do not think that I have ever had bread pudding before. #client
Wow, really? You should try it some time!
This looks so yummy. I love a good old fashioned pudding. This is one of my favorite desserts/snacks. I bet it's fun when the kids help in the kitchen. I am saving your recipe for later.
Awesome! I hope you get to try it. I ate another couple slices today... 🙂
The original bread pudding didnt use milk or butter and eggs because it was war time. My mother would soak the bread in water then when it was soaked well would squeeze the water from the bread and put the bread in a different bowl then added whatever dried fruits and spices to hand plus some sugar and a tablespoon of butter and 1 egg. Then mix everything together and cook slowly in the oven. The modern way using milk etc is really more like a bread and butter pudding. Its not an English bread pudding.
I’m glad the recipe is called “old fashioned” & not “original war time” bread pudding. Shwoo!
This recipe sounds just like my moms recipe that was handed down to her! Thanks for the recipe! I’ve got it saved to try tomorrow! Yum!
Hi, I. Looking for the original recipe for years now and haven't found one. I'm thinking of omitting egg butter and milk and using mixed spice just using butter to grease the dish
.. do you think it would work. I'm sure we didn't use all the dairy products ..
Eggs hold it together, milk (or an equivalent non-dairy milk) creates the proper texture... so I'm not sure if omitting eggs, butter, and milk would work. It would be essentially re-baking the bread, so you'd end up with something dry and probably hard, instead of a soft pudding. If you can tell me more about what you're trying to do, I can try to advise. 🙂
Hi Katie, my old recipe was soak the bread, drain and squeeze the water out, add mixed fruit sugar and spice mix it all well put into greased dish and put in the oven.. that was how I did it last week and it was perfect. Bring it out the oven and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Only thing I didn’t do was weigh anything ..
Your table sounds fabulous. I could almost see the children on their knees making memories including this Bread pudding dessert. I keep saying I'm going to make some bread pudding and haven't done it yet. You've done all the research. Thanks for the baking tip on oven temps and cooking times for better consistency.
Those Huggies wipes are handy to have around for all sorts of cleaning up.
Thanks, Shirley! I do my best to get all the "homework" done so you don't have to.
I love Huggies Wipes! When you have little ones, they are perfect for cleaning up all sorts of messes. Your Bread Pudding Recipe sounds so good! I love that you included what makes it Old Fashioned -- great info!
Thanks, Kristy! I really enjoyed this project.
I'm sitting here staring at this and it's making me so hungry! This looks absolutely yummy. My kids are huge fans of casseroles and puddings, so this will definitely make it into our recipe catalog. Thank you!
Great! I hope y'all get to try it out. I guarantee you'll love it. 🙂
You know you are a mom when you use wipes for everything! wipes are so much easier than spray and a rag. This pudding looks awesome, too. My kids love anything sweet so I am sure it would be gone as soon as I make it no questions asked. Thanks for sharing.
Ha! Those wipes have done their share of cleaning. I keep a pack in the car, too, and wipe down all the interior surfaces from time to time. It's funny how we pick up ideas from being parents.
Ooohh, I haven't had bread pudding in years. You've given me a craving.
I don't trust anyone that doesn't have baby wipes around the house 🙂 I buy cases at a time from costo, but not Huggies. I'll try these.
This one's definitely worth trying. I probably need to stop making it, because I end up eating it for dinner...
I can honestly say I have never had bread pudding. Which is kinda strange because I've seen it at restaurants and cafes. Yours sounds simply divine and simple enough that I'm sure I could manage it. I wonder how it would turn out with gluten free bread?
I'm sure it would work great. The custard should function exactly the same. If you try it, let me know!
I am not a big fan of bread pudding (hate raisins). That being said I could totally see myself adding a giant scoop of Vanilla ice cream to a giant bowl of this. It really does look amazing.
I'm not really a fan of bread pudding. It's something about the texture of most of them that turns me off. However, this looks like the texture might be different. My son would probably love it. I agree with Michelle - it seems like it would go well with vanilla ice cream.
I like pudding and your photos make me wanna have some right now. The recipe is so easy to follow. I recently into baking and this one will be added on my next assignment. I can't wait for weekend my husband would surely love it.
When I was a child, my mom made biscuit pudding with leftover biscuits from the previous day. She would halve the biscuits and butter them, then toast them in the oven before pouring the custard on them. I really loved biscuit pudding.
Oh, wow, that sounds lovely. My mom was just telling me about how her mom made biscuits and poured chocolate sauce (aka "chocolate gravy") over them. I am going to have to bake some biscuits soon... 😉
NOW I know what to do with this bag of crumbled Huckleberry Muffins! Thanks for the idea!
You're quite welcome! 🙂
I make Bread Pudding a lot especially in Winter.
I like a good eggy leftover bread ,challah, Brioche and croissants really make the best and I am known for my Bread Pudding.
I love eggy breads too! Challah is a favorite. Haven't tried brioche, but I bet it's really good.
I LOVE bread pudding My grand mother made it for us alot BUT hers had ALOT of custard base. I have tried and tried to make it but I NEVER see
m to get enough custard...suggestions and I do use the water bath like she did but going to try the 2 temp method too thank you have a blessed day candy
Hi Candy! Different bread pudding recipes have different ratios of custard to bread. This version has my preferred ratio, which results in a bread pudding that is very moist and tender, not too dense, but also not floating in custard. My suggestion for trying to replicate your grandmother's bread pudding would be to always keep your pan size and bread amount the same, but to experiment with the amount of custard until you find the ratio that works. Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to come back any time with questions & comments. 🙂
I like the recipe, but at what point did you add. the cinnamon?
Oops! Looks like I put it in the ingredients, but not in the directions. I fixed it just now. You add it in the custard base along with the milk, eggs, etc.
Confession...I've never eaten or made bread pudding...horrible right?! It looks so good so I'm not sure why this is the case...maybe time to change that!