A favourite dessert: bread and butter pudding


As a special treat, my mum would make Bread and Butter Pudding for us in winter.  It was one of my favourite desserts as a child and it still today as an adult. I have made this many times for my sons and they love this dish too. This is a cheap, filling and best of all yummy dessert . . . plus a great way to use up any stale bread that you might have.

There are many different versions of this recipe - this one is very basic and the one my mum gave me.  You can bake this in a large pie dish or in individual ramekins (which is what I do).  If you use ramekins, you will use less bread. You can use any type of bread including raisin bread, I keep the crusts on, you can remove them if you like. Adapt to your own tastes.

Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups milk (cream or evaporated milk or a combination)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essences
  • 1/2 cup caster sugar (more if you are sweet tooth)
  • Handful of sultanas (this is optional - you can use dried apricots - the amount is up to you)
  • 10-12 slices of bread (this depends on the size of your dish - it doesn't matter if you use slightly less)
  • butter to spread on the bread
  • Cinnamon sugar (optional)
  • Jam (for glazing - optional)
Preheat the oven to 180C (356F)

Lightly butter a 2-litre baking dish. Butter the bread (one side) then cut each slice into 2 triangles. Arrange triangles in layers in the dish, then sprinkle the sultanas in between layers. Don't put any sultanas on the top layer as they will burn.

Whisk together the eggs and caster sugar, add milk and vanilla. Pour over bread slices, making sure not to dislodge them. Set pudding aside for at least 30 minutes - this ensures that the pudding will be light and not stodgy.

Before placing in the oven, sprinkle the top of the pudding with cinnamon sugar (unless using the glaze - see below).

Place in oven until mixture is set and the bread has browned - this will take around 30-40 mins. I don't place the pudding in a bath of hot water as some recipes recommend and never had any problems - however, if you wish, place the baking dish in a large roasting pan and pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish.

Once cooked, serve immediately with vanilla ice cream or cream.

To create a glaze on top of the pudding (not something my mum use to do, but it does sound nice):
  • Heat the marmalade or apricot jam (3 tablespoons) in the microwave for about 40 seconds or in a small saucepan over low heat for 1-2 minutes until spreadable. Remove pudding from oven and use a pastry brush to spread marmalade over top. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes, then serve immediately.


Here is another great recipe that my family love - however, I don't use the lemon and orange juice - I use only milk (2 cups) or milk and coconut milk (1 cup each).  And to make this recipe more thrifty, remove the almonds, it tastes great without them.


 

Comments

  1. I have never liked bread puddings of any kind! I just can't stomach them! :P

    The coconut pie sounds good though; I might have to give it a go sometime. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clara - I have to admit I have had so poorly made bread and butter puddings, perhaps that is why you don't like them. More for me :)

    But the coconut pie is one that my son makes as it is so easy to make. He often adds passionfruit to it for something different.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love b &b pudding but hubby doesn't, so alas we don't make it at home:( the same with rice pudding :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joyfulmum - my husband doesn't like either recipe, but I still made them for my sons and they love them both!! In fact my husband doesn't eat desserts when I make them, so he just misses out on our treats :)

    I made a coconut rice pudding on the weekend, my husband thinks it is horrid - but I am going to enjoy it !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that's funny Jo! our husbands must have similar tastes:)

      Delete
    2. My husband grew up in Wales and school lunches were provided by the school - I think he has some very bad examples of desserts and this is why he doesn't like them!!!! One was rice pudding, mine, of course is nothing like a school lunch.

      He was also given tripe for school lunches and now he hates it:)

      Delete
  5. Yes, this was a favourite in our household growing up, my Mum was and is such a good cook! When my oldest brother comes to visit Mum & Dad - Mum will cook B&B pudding just for him. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. We had bread pudding for Sunday lunch yesterday. I like the bread with lots of butter and spread with marmalade jam -- that's something I learnt from A. Helen. We always add raisins -- and plenty on top; the burnt ones are the best! For some reason, all the recipes forget the nutmeg; a light sprinkling on top is a must. Of course, we used our own gluten free bread to make it.
    LL
    Nick

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sometimes add the nutmeg into the eggy mix rather than sprinkle on top. Did you use to make it when we were kids? Not into raisins, prefer currents. Apricot jam much nicer than marmalade!!!!!

      Delete
  7. J0luise,

    These sound wonderful. I'll try to make at least one of these recipes this weekend and I'll let you know if it came out good! Thanks for posting these. I'll also have a look at your recipe page and see what else sounds interesting. :)

    Blessings,

    Mrss. A.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This recipe look great! I'm thinking about trying the recipe as written and then trying a savory version with herbs, cheese, and bacon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jenn - what a great idea. I have never considered making it as a savoury dish but it sounds like a brilliant idea - I really must give it a go. Thanks so much for suggesting it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment