For generations, my family has cherished my Grandma Alice’s 50-year-old bread pudding recipe. This comforting treat, passed down through the years, has become a staple in my home with a few tweaks to make it even better. Lightened up over time, this family recipe now works as a versatile year-round dessert for any occasion.
Using a combination of stale bread soaked in milk and cream, this bread pudding recipe features lemon zest and summer berries for the warmer months, and cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice for the fall and winter seasons. The subtle changes I’ve made to the original recipe have transformed it into a dessert that can be enjoyed at holiday meals or weekend brunches.
With just a couple of hours of preparation, you can create a delicious dessert that may become a tradition in your family for years to come. The essence of my Grandma Alice’s bread pudding recipe lies in using leftover bread soaked in a custard base, leading to a French-toast-meets-bread-pudding experience.
To achieve the best results, choose a dense bread like a crusty artisan loaf or brioche, soak it in a custard mixture made with eggs, light cream, milk, and evaporated milk. This creates a silky custard base with the consistency of French toast batter. Let the bread cubes soak in the custard for an hour or so before baking, allowing them to soften and absorb the flavors.
The key ingredients for Grandma Alice’s bread pudding include day-old bread, whole milk, light cream, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and butter. By following a few simple steps, you can recreate this beloved recipe in your own kitchen.
Whether you enjoy this bread pudding in the spring with a dollop of créme fraîche and summer berries, or in the fall with a warm vanilla sauce and powdered sugar, it’s a dessert that can be adapted to suit any season. With subtle changes and a rich history, Grandma Alice’s bread pudding recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household too.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.