Name: Dutch Oven Bread Pudding
Prep time: 10 minutes + 20 minutes standing
Cook time: 40 minutes
Ingredients: 2 loaves (about 2 lbs.) brioche, ripped into pieces; 3 eggs; 2 egg yolks; ½ c. packed light brown sugar; 2 c. heavy whipping cream; 2 c. whole milk; 2 tbsp. vanilla extract; 1.5 tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon (regular will do too); 1.2 tsp. nutmeg; ½ c. (1 stick) salted butter, melted; 1 c. chopped pecans; 1 c. heavy whipping cream; 1.5 c. packed light brown sugar; ½ tsp. corn starch; 2 tbsp. salted butter, melted; 1 vanilla bean pod cut down the long way, seeds removed and added with the pod; ¼ tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon; Light pinch salt; Pinch of flaked salt; Chopped roasted pecans

Bread pudding is basically a dessert strata and, much like the savory strata, doesn’t get enough attention. It’s really nothing fancy, just a whole lot of delicious. A classic that should not be overlooked.

Dutch Oven Bread Pudding

Printable Version

theinspiredhome.com

Author

Jennifer Bravo

Published

March 18, 2020

Modified

August 18, 2020

Prep Time

10 minutes + 20 minutes standing

INGREDIENTS

For the Bread Pudding:

2 loaves (about 2 lbs.) brioche, ripped into pieces
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
½ c. packed light brown sugar
2 c. heavy whipping cream
2 c. whole milk
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
1.5 tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon (regular will do too)
1.2 tsp. nutmeg
½ c. (1 stick) salted butter, melted
1 c. chopped pecans

For the Sauce:

1 c. heavy whipping cream
1.5 c. packed light brown sugar
½ tsp. corn starch
2 tbsp. salted butter, melted
1 vanilla bean pod cut down the long way, seeds removed and added with the pod
¼ tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon
Light pinch salt

Optional Garnish:

Pinch of flaked salt
Chopped roasted pecans

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl using a hand whisk beat eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour in cream, milk, and vanilla extract and continue to mix until well combined.
In an even larger bowl mix butter, pecans, and ripped bread. Pour egg and milk mixture over top. Set aside and let the bread absorb the mixture for about 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 5 qt. dutch oven with butter. Pour bread pudding into the dutch oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the center is fully set.
In a medium saucepan, combine all of the sauce ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 10 minutes, or until thick. Discard the vanilla pod. If extra cornstarch is needed to thicken, add in a heavy pinch at a time. Whisk until smooth and glossy.
Serve bread pudding with sauce over each individual serving, add more pecans and a pinch of flaked salt if so desired.

A few recipe notes:

Bread. Use whatever you have, but I highly suggest Brioche. It can be already flavored with chocolate or maybe nuts and dried fruit. Really whatever you have or inspires you at the grocery.

Whipping cream. Use whatever leftovers you have, may it be buttermilk, half and half, only whole milk. Just make sure it has a higher fat content.

Vietnamese cinnamon. Okay, this is a bit of a curveball. Regular will do, however, I highly encourage you to make Vietnamese cinnamon your normal go-to. It’s so much more flavorful and exciting. Worth it.

Butter. I always use salted and cultured butter. I think it adds such richness and flavor to both savory and sweet dished. Use whatever you have, but add a pinch more salt if you’re using unsalted.

Pecans. I chose this nut to add extra crunch and because it seems like a natural fit. Feel free to omit or change it up to whatever you desire. Have fun and play – that’s what this is all about!

Sauce. If you don’t have cornstarch or another thickening substitute, flour will do! Double it and cook with the butter as you melt it so it completely cooks off. Or, boil longer to reduce and thicken everything. Another thing to note is you could absolutely make an icing using confectioner’s sugar if that’s what you have instead of a cup more whipping cream.

Lastly, vanilla bean. I LOVE the way the sauce looks with the speckle of vanilla beans. You’re welcome to scrape the pod clean and not add the pod as the sauce cooks, however, I like to get the most mileage out of the pods as possible. I find it infuses a bit more flavor this way. Another option is to use just vanilla extract or a ½ to 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste.