Bread Pudding — a Master Recipe
I make up bread puddings on the fly from the breads and other ingredients I have in the house. That’s possible because I have a kind of master recipe in my brain. The problem, of course, with recipes in my head is they sometimes disappear if I go a few months without making them. So, I’m writing this one down.
If you liked the recipes I posted the last three weeks, this Master Recipe will give you a basis for making up some of your own.
Bread puddings can be savory as well as sweet, although we often call them by different names. If you use chicken stock for the liquid, add sauteed onions and celery, and season with the Scarborough Fair herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), you have stuffing or dressing. If you use milk for the liquid, add a couple of extra eggs and a handful of grated cheese, you have a breakfast casserole.
Bread Pudding Master Recipe
10 slices bread
Herbs and spices
2 to 4 cups of liquid and soft ingredients
2 eggs
1. Cube the bread. Layer cubes in a bowl with sprinkled herbs and spices. If the bread is very fresh, allow the cubes to dry for an hour or so.
2. Stir together the liquid ingredients and the eggs. Pour over bread cubes, stirring until all cubes are moistened. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for an hour or so to let the bread cubes absorb the liquid.
3. Stir in any ingredients like nuts or dried fruits that shouldn’t absorb too much moisture.
4. Spoon the mixture into a baking pan or the bread machine bucket. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the size and shape of the pan) or bake in the bread machine on the “bake only” setting for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
This is my post for Weekend Cooking. Check Beth Fish Reads today for more links to more culinary posts around the web.
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My daughters absolutely love savory bread pudding — their favorite is pizza flavored, with sausage or pepperoni, artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, lots of oregano and mozzarella. Thanks for the fabulous master recipe!
Happy New Year, Joy.
Thanks for this master recipe, I’ve been enjoying all of your bread recipes.
I love warm bread pudding with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream on top, but it’s January 4th, so I am currently sticking to cutting back on sweets after the holiday splurge. It will be good to have the master recipe for trying the savory ones sometime!
I have always been confused as to what exactly “bread pudding” is. Because when I think about it in a literal sense, it sounds gross, haha. But based on your description, it might not be so bad. Maybe I will get over my aversion and try it the next time someone makes it.
I am glad you did write this one down, it looks marvelous. Will have to try this one and some variations. I do the same as you, will forget to write a recipe down and later try and figure it out.
Thank you for your nice comment at my site about the artichoke salad
Are you trying to kill me (in a good way)?? I have held off on making bread pudding through all your wonderful posts … I feel myself caving.
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We love bread pudding and it the perfect recipe for good bread that is a few days’ old. Thank you for this excellent master recipe.