Bourbon Bread Pudding

Buttery, boozy, and rich.

By
Emma Kobolakis
Emma Kobolakis is a contributing writer for Serious Eats.
Emma Kobolakis
Emma Kobolakis is a writer whose foundation lies in food, with a love for baking and desserts.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated January 29, 2024
A slice of bourbon bread pudding drizzled with creamy bourbon butter glaze.

Serious Eats / Squire Fox

Why It Works

  • Adjust the texture of your bread pudding by choosing different types of bread, such as brioche for a softer final product.
  • You can let the bread mixture sit for an hour on the counter before baking to improve the bread pudding.

Sometimes, the name tells you all you need to know. Buttery, boozy, toothsome and rich, this bread pudding from The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook is just the thing for Sunday brunch. Or, you know, any time you want.

Tips: The type of bread used to make the pudding makes the most difference in the texture. You can use ciabatta, which is the hardest and will give it the firmest texture. French baguette, thinly sliced, works too. Brioche and challah are softest; if you use either of these, you won't need to soak the bread as long.

Tweaks: Take a couple simple, extra steps to improve this recipe. Soak the raisins in the liquid made from combining the butter, sugars, and vanilla. Once the bread mixture is in the baking dish, let it sit for an hour on the counter before baking it.

Reprinted with permission by Cheryl and Griffith Day. Copyright © 2012. Published by Artisan Books. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.

February 2013

Recipe Details

Bourbon Bread Pudding Recipe

Prep 10 mins
Cook 75 mins
Active 20 mins
Resting Time 15 mins
Total 100 mins
Serves 12 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Pudding

  • 1 1/2 pounds ciabatta, brioche, or challah, cut into 2-inch cubes (9 cups)

  • 4 cups half-and-half

  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

  • 5 large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup golden raisins

For the Bourbon Glaze

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 2 tablespoons bourbon

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

  1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

  2. To make the pudding: Put the bread in a large mixing bowl and pour the half-and-half over it, tossing it gently to soak the bread. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the custard.

  3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from the heat, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla, and stir until well combined and smooth.

  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, then add the butter-sugar mixture, stirring until well combined and smooth. Pour the custard mixture over the bread, tossing gently to incorporate the custard and half-and-half mixture until well combined.

  5. Pour the bread mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the raisins over the top and gently work them into the pudding; make sure the liquid covers the bread. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 55 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the bread pudding is golden brown. Set the pudding aside while you prepare the glaze.

  6. To make the bourbon glaze: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the bourbon and confectioners’ sugar, stirring until incorporated. Add the cream and mix until smooth.

  7. Pour the glaze over the top of the bread pudding and let it sit for 15 minutes before serving. The bread pudding is best served warm, but it can be refrigerated, tightly covered, for up to 4 days.

Special Equipment

Large mixing bowl, 9-by-13-inch baking dish, aluminum foil

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
659Calories
31gFat
84gCarbs
11gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories659
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g40%
Saturated Fat 19g93%
Cholesterol 158mg53%
Sodium 368mg16%
Total Carbohydrate 84g31%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Total Sugars 56g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 1mg6%
Calcium 211mg16%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 343mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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