Caramel Bread Pudding

(76)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 40 mins
Servings:
10

When rich, custardy bread pudding is matched with bittersweet caramel, it's doubly delicious.

Ingredients

  • 8 large eggs

  • 2 cups milk

  • 2 cups heavy cream

  • 1 ½ cups sugar

  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ cup dark rum or brandy

  • 1 baguette (1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces

  • ½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until combined. Whisk in milk, cream, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla bean, salt, and rum. Add bread and let soak 45 minutes to 1 hour, pushing bread down occasionally until most of liquid has been absorbed.

  2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over high heat, stir together remaining 1 cup sugar, vinegar, and 1/2 cup water until sugar has dissolved. Cook, without stirring, until sugar is dark amber in color, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add 1/4 cup water (mixture will sputter); swirl pot until combined.

  3. Working quickly, pour caramel into a 9-inch round baking pan, carefully rotating the pan so caramel covers the bottom and some of the sides; set aside until cool.

  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put a kettle of water on to boil. Rub cooled pan with butter and spoon in bread mixture packing bread tightly to fit. Cover with a parchment round.

  5. Place pan in a roasting pan and pour hot water to come halfway up the side of the pan. Bake 1 1/4 hours or until a knife inserted in the center comes out barely clean. Do not overbake. Let stand 5 minutes then run a metal spatula around the edges and invert the pudding onto a large rimmed plate.

    med104078_1008_breadpudd.jpg

Cook's Notes

It's important to unmold this dessert shortly after it comes out of the oven so the caramel doesn't solidify.

Related Articles