Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

A Warm Embrace of Nostalgia: Grandma's Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

This recipe recreates Grandma's Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce, a timeless comfort food that evokes warm memories and pure satisfaction. It's a simple yet soul-warming dessert guaranteed to leave you wanting another serving (and maybe even a scoop of vanilla ice cream!).

Ingredients for a Trip Down Memory Lane:

For the Bread Pudding:

• 4 cups (about 8 slices) Cubed White Bread: This forms the base of the pudding, offering a soft and comforting texture that melts in your mouth. You can use day-old bread for the best results, as it absorbs the custard better.
• ½ cup Raisins: These little jewels of sweetness add pops of flavor and chewy goodness throughout the pudding. Feel free to adjust the amount depending on your preference, or omit them entirely if you're not a raisin fan.
• 2 cups Milk: This binds all the ingredients together and creates a creamy custard-like texture that forms the heart of the pudding.
• ¼ cup Butter: Adds richness and depth of flavor to the pudding, making it extra decadent.
• ½ cup Sugar: Sweetens the pudding without overpowering the other flavors. You can adjust the amount based on your desired level of sweetness.
• 2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten: These act as a binding agent, helping to hold the ingredients together and creating a slightly fluffy texture in the baked pudding.
• 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract: The magic ingredient! Pure vanilla extract infuses the pudding with a warm, comforting vanilla aroma and flavor, transporting you back to Grandma's kitchen.
• ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg: A touch of nutmeg adds a subtle warmth and spice to the pudding, complementing the vanilla and creating a complex flavor profile.

For the Vanilla Sauce:

• ½ cup Butter: The base of the sauce, providing a rich and smooth texture that complements the bread pudding perfectly.
• ½ cup Sugar & ½ cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar: This sweet duo sweetens the sauce and creates a delightful balance of sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor from the brown sugar.
• ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream: Adds richness and a touch of creaminess to the sauce, making it extra luxurious and decadent.
• 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla strikes again! The vanilla extract ties the flavors of the sauce together and complements the vanilla in the pudding, creating a cohesive and harmonious flavor profile.

A Step-by-Step Walk Down Memory Lane:

1. Preheat for Comfort:
• Get your oven nice and warm at 350°F (175°C) to ensure the pudding bakes evenly and develops a slightly crisp top.
2. Bready Base:
• In a large bowl, combine the cubed white bread and raisins. Gently toss everything together until the raisins are evenly distributed. Imagine you're creating a bed of soft, bready goodness for the upcoming flavor explosion.
3. Milky Magic:
• In a separate saucepan, combine the milk and ¼ cup of butter. Heat this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted. This creates a warm and milky infusion that will be poured over the bread and raisin mixture.
4. Let it Soak:
• Pour the hot milk mixture over the bread and raisin mixture in the large bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes. This allows the bread to absorb the milky goodness and soften, ensuring a wonderfully moist and flavorful pudding.
5. Sweet & Spicy Symphony:
• After the 10-minute soak, stir in all the remaining pudding ingredients to the large bowl with the softened bread mixture – sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Mix everything well until fully incorporated. Ensure there are no dry pockets of bread and that the eggs are evenly distributed.
6. Baking for Nostalgia:
• Pour the pudding mixture into a greased 1 ½-quart casserole dish. The aroma that fills your kitchen during this time is pure nostalgia! Bake the pudding in your preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top should be slightly golden brown.
7. Vanilla Sauce Symphony:
• While the pudding bakes, prepare the vanilla sauce. In another saucepan, combine all the sauce ingredients (butter, sugar, brown sugar, and heavy whipping cream) over medium heat. Stir occasionally and cook until the mixture thickens and reaches a full boil, approximately 5-8 minutes. Once it reaches a boil, remove it from the heat.
8. Vanilla Magic Touch:
• Stir in the vanilla extract to the hot sauce. This infuses the sauce with its warm and inviting vanilla fragrance, creating a perfect complement to the vanilla in the pudding.
9. Serving Up Comfort:
• Allow the pudding to cool slightly before serving. Spoon warm portions of the bread pudding into individual dessert dishes. Drizzle each serving generously with the homemade vanilla sauce. The warm pudding and the cool vanilla sauce create a delightful textural contrast that elevates the entire dessert experience.
10. A Taste of Home:
• Enjoy this warm and comforting dessert, and let the flavors transport you back to cherished memories of Grandma's kitchen. Every bite is a delicious reminder of simpler times and the taste of love.

Tips and Variations:

• For a richer pudding: Substitute half of the milk with heavy cream. This will add a decadent touch to the overall texture and flavor.
• Spice it Up! For a touch of warmth, add a pinch of ground cinnamon or ginger to the bread pudding mixture along with the nutmeg.
• Boozy Twist: For an adult-friendly version, add a tablespoon of your favorite liquor, like rum or bourbon, to the bread pudding mixture.
• Fruity Fun! Replace the raisins with other dried fruits like chopped dried cranberries, cherries, or apricots for a delightful variation in flavor and texture.
• Individual Portions: For a fun and elegant presentation, bake the pudding in ramekins instead of a casserole dish. This creates individual servings perfect for a special occasion.
• Leftovers Love: This bread pudding keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat individual servings in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

With its simple ingredients, nostalgic charm, and endless possibilities for customization, Grandma's Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce is a dessert that transcends generations. So, preheat your oven, gather your loved ones, and create some new memories of your own with this heartwarming classic!