Baking Bread Pudding: Don’t throw away that stale bread!

Baking bread pudding is a really smart and tasty way to reuse the stale bread. Soak stale bread in milk, butter and then add eggs to get the best movie dessert ever. It also makes for a great breakfast too. The only reason it is hard for me to make this dessert is that it is nearly impossible to find stale bread at our home. We like bread too much that there are rarely any leftovers to go stale.

This is a very famous pudding that is enjoyed all over the world from Malaysia to Argentine. It is fairly easy to prepare but you should pay attention to cooking temperature. Be careful not to over bake the bread pudding or it will be too dry. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before you serve it. Add dry raisins and lemon zest to make it more nutritious. You can use any kind but white bread is my favorite for this delicious treat. If the bread is way too stale then you might have to soak it in milk the night before.

What Is the Difference Between Bread Pudding and Bread and Butter Pudding?

Bread and butter pudding is actually similar to custard. It is soft and made by arranging buttered bread slices on a deep tray. Custard is poured over the top of bread slices. In general, the crusts are removed and the bread slices are cut into triangles. On the other hand, bread pudding is British creation and made by soaking stale bread in milk. It resembles a moist cake more than a pudding. It is sweeter than the bread and butter pudding; sprinkled with sugar and full of raisins.

How Do You Know When Your Bread Pudding Is Done?

You should bake bread pudding for approximately 45 minutes. The top of bread pudding should spring back when lightly touched if it is done. Insert a knife around the center of the pudding to see if it comes out clean. If it is clean, then it is baked. You can also check the temperature from the center of the pudding with a food thermometer. It should be around 160°F when it is ready

Is Bread Pudding Served Hot or Cold?

Bread pudding can be served either warm or hot; it is totally up to your preference. You can serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream or have it in the morning with cold milk. In general, it is served cold during summer. I prefer it warm in winter right after it is baked and cooled down for half an hour.

Can I Reheat Bread Pudding in The Oven?

You can reheat the bread pudding in the oven. To do so; preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). It is best to cover the pudding tray with aluminum foil in order to prevent it from getting dry. Cook for 10 minutes and you are all set. It is better to consume bread pudding fresh for better flavor. You can also warm it in the microwave oven on low power for 4-5 minutes.

Can You Prepare Bread Pudding the Night Before?

You can prepare the bread pudding the night before and keep it in the refrigerator. It is less time consuming this way. Take it out of the fridge and bake it right away in the preheated oven and serve. You can also keep it in the refrigerator after you baked it. It would not get bad within one or two days. But never leave it in room temperature for more than two hours. Keep it in the fridge and just reheat it again when you serve.

Delicious Bread Pudding Recipe

Try this traditional bread pudding with your loved ones. It is sweet and goes great with vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle with sugar while serving if you like.

Ingredients:

12 slices of stale white bread
4 eggs beaten
1 cup of dried raisins
½ cup of orange zest (optional)
4 cups of milk
½ cups of butter, melted (100gr)
1 ½ cups of white sugar
1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 330°F (165°C).
Start by breaking the bread slices into smaller parts.
Add the raisins, cinnamon, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
Melt the butter and drizzle over the bread.
Pour in the milk and stir well with a spatula.
Whisk the eggs and sugar in another bowl slightly. Then pour this mixture on the bread.
Grease a thick wall tray with butter and pour the mixture on it.
Spread well with the spatula and push down to make it even.
Bake at 330°F (165°C) or until it starts to turn golden brown.

In Conclusion

Baking bread pudding is a great idea; stale bread made into a yummy treat. Never throw away your leftover bread and turn it into a delicious dessert. It is easy to prepare and can be consumed hot or cold. I also add bitter chocolate pieces which melt in the oven and make it extra flavorful. You can be really creative with this one.