Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

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Sure! Here’s a rich, detailed, and heartfelt recipe for Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding, complete with its history, preparation methods, an inviting introduction, and a warm conclusion — perfect for lovers of cozy desserts and comforting classics. 🍞🍨

🍞 Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding

Warm, custardy comfort in every bite — served hot with ice cream or cream. A classic dessert that brings hearts (and spoons) together.

📖 Introduction

There’s something magical about the smell of cinnamon drifting from the oven — it smells like home, like warmth, like a hug in dessert form. Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding is one of those timeless dishes that brings generations together. Whether it’s made from leftover bread or baked intentionally as the star of the show, this dessert embodies simplicity, resourcefulness, and rich flavor. Soft, custard-soaked bread baked to golden perfection, dotted with sweet raisins, and kissed with cinnamon — it’s pure nostalgia in every bite.

And when you crown it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? That’s when it goes from comfort food to soul food.

Perfect for date nights, family dinners, holidays, or solo indulgences — this bread pudding is made for lovers of warmth, spice, and all things nice. 💛

🧾 Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the pudding:

  • 6 cups cubed cinnamon raisin bread (about 8–10 slices)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup raisins (optional if your bread is already raisin-rich)
  • A pinch of salt
  • 2 tbsp butter, for greasing the dish

Optional toppings:

  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Whipped cream
  • Caramel sauce
  • A dusting of powdered sugar

🥣 Method

🔪 Step 1: Prepare the Bread

  1. Cube the bread into 1-inch chunks. If it’s fresh, let it sit out for an hour or two to dry out — slightly stale bread holds up better in custard.
  2. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
  3. Add cubed bread to the dish evenly.

🥄 Step 2: Make the Custard

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, then add milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Mix until well combined — the sugar should dissolve and the mixture should look creamy.

🍶 Step 3: Assemble & Soak

  1. Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes.
  2. Sprinkle in the extra raisins if using.
  3. Press the bread down gently with a spoon or spatula to help it soak up the liquid.
  4. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 2 hours) to fully absorb.

🔥 Step 4: Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Bake for 40–50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted comes out clean.
  3. Let it rest for 10–15 minutes before serving.

🕰️ History & Formation

Bread pudding has humble roots dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries in Europe. Known as a “poor man’s pudding,” it was a practical solution to avoid wasting stale bread. Over centuries, it evolved from a frugal necessity to a beloved dessert found on upscale menus and in home kitchens alike.

The cinnamon raisin version brings an American twist — especially popular in the Southern United States, where spice and sweetness are celebrated. By using cinnamon raisin bread, the dish becomes infused with built-in flavor and texture, requiring less fuss but yielding maximum reward.

Its formation is both practical and poetic: old bread reborn with custard and warmth — like love rekindled after time.

💑 Made for Lovers

This dish is pure romance on a plate. Whether you’re cooking with someone, for someone, or simply indulging in self-love — bread pudding is comfort and closeness. Share a slice after dinner, sneak a forkful late at night, or serve it warm in the morning with coffee.

Lovers of:

  • Cinnamon spice
  • Creamy, warm desserts
  • Golden baked edges
  • Nostalgic comfort food

…will find bliss in this dish.

Pro tip for couples: drizzle with warm caramel sauce and share it straight from the dish — one spoon, two hearts. ❤️

🧁 Serving Suggestions

  • Fresh & warm with vanilla bean ice cream
  • Cold with coffee in the morning
  • Reheated and drizzled with bourbon caramel sauce
  • Topped with fresh fruit or compote for a tart contrast

🎬 Conclusion

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding is more than dessert. It’s a celebration of second chances — for old bread, for forgotten ingredients, and maybe even for relationships that just needed a little sweetness.

So whether you’re cooking for one, two, or a table full of hungry hearts — let the scent of cinnamon, cream, and love fill your kitchen.

Bake it. Share it. Love it.

Would you like a printable recipe card or a version with fewer ingredients? Or perhaps a gluten-free or vegan twist? Let me know!

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