Jan 14, 2013

Eats: Pullman Bread Pudding

Eats: What's Cooking in the Kitchen?


There are some winter days when you just have to put a bread pudding in the oven. Over the weekend, while the temperature hovered around the 40+ degree mark, the days were foggy, cool, and drizzly, which in my mind is perfect for a pan of bread pudding.


There are mainly two types of bread pudding:  super rich and soaking or minimalist and moist.  Depending on my mood, I like both but this weekend, I opted for a minimalist pudding that was still toothsome but light. Since the main ingredient in bread pudding is ... well ... bread, I looked around for something more interesting than simple white bread. Once I came across a freshly baked loaf of cinnamon raisin pullman bread, I knew my baking could begin.



Pullman bread or pain de mie is typically baked in a lidded loaf pan to keep the crust thin. The bread has a lovely texture when toasted and when made up into a pudding, carries the custard mixture beautifully. I was fortunate in that my loaf already had cinnamon and raisins but if you find only a plain pullman, I would strongly recommend adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 cup of raisins to the recipe below.


This is an easy and delicious dessert which will scent your entire kitchen and make a winter's day just a pinch warmer!  Enjoy.



Pullman Bread Pudding
(serves 6)

1 loaf of cinnamon raisin pullman bread
2 1/2 cups of milk (I used 1% to keep the fat content down)
1/2 cup half & half
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Slice bread and lay in a buttered 9 x 12 baking dish.  With a whisk, mix the milk, half & half, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl.  Pour liquid mixture evenly over the bread and bake for 45 minutes.

Let cool and slice into squares.  Serve with ice cream or a dash of plain cream. 

11 comments:

  1. YUM! That sounds absolutely amazing. It's been so cold here, that that would be just perfect right now.

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  2. That's the second time I've read about bread pudding, although yours is the healthy variety! I might have to make some now!

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  3. I giggled when I saw this post this morning, because I'm making savory bread pudding for dinner tonight! Maybe I'll post my recipe if I have time to take photos!

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  4. Yum! I love bread pudding, that loaf looks amazing, I haven't seen a pullman loaf here before, might have to see about making one!

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  5. Love making it with rye bread for a change up

    Hugs

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  6. Oh, that does look delicious and I can almost smell the cinnamon! Bon appétit :D

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  7. That bread is beautiful! I don't think that I would have been able to cut it up and make it into bread pudding, but then again bread pudding is a great dessert! Thank you for sharing the recipe, you are giving me some new things to try!

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  8. Delicious! I love bread pudding, although we call it bread and butter pudding... I butter the bread ;)
    Such a great way of using bread a bit too old - especially fruity bread. Perfect for winter.

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  9. That looks absolutely delicious - sadly I am wheat intolerant. Gluten free bread isn't great but ... I wonder how it would turn out in a pudding...?

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  10. This is beautiful! I'll have to try it one weekend.

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