Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Comfort in Every Bite: Soft, custardy bread pudding with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg is like a warm hug in dessert form.
• Budget-Friendly: Made with pantry staples like stale bread, eggs, milk, and sugar—perfect for using up leftovers.
• Customizable: Add raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts for extra texture and flavor.
• Perfect Pairing: The rich, sweet vanilla sauce takes this dessert to the next level.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Bread Pudding:

• 6 cups cubed stale bread (French bread, brioche, or challah work best)
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 large eggs
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: ½ cup raisins, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips

For the Vanilla Sauce:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat and Prep

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
2. If your bread isn’t stale, cube it and let it sit out for 15–20 minutes to dry slightly. This helps it absorb the custard better.

2. Make the Custard Mixture

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.
2. Add the cubed bread to the custard mixture and gently stir to coat. Let the bread soak for 10–15 minutes, pressing down occasionally to ensure even absorption.
3. If using mix-ins like raisins or chocolate chips, fold them in after soaking.

3. Assemble and Bake

1. Transfer the soaked bread mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
2. Bake in the preheated oven for 45–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set (a knife inserted should come out clean).

4. Make the Vanilla Sauce

1. While the bread pudding bakes, prepare the vanilla sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, heavy cream, butter, and salt.
2. Stir continuously until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened (about 5 minutes).
3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside to cool slightly before serving.