Classic Raisin Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

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Sure! Here’s a full, heartwarming and rich recipe for Classic Raisin Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce – complete with history, methods, ingredients, instructions, and a nostalgic touch of love. This is the kind of dessert that carries the comfort of home, the warmth of memories, and the sweetness of tradition.

🥮 Classic Raisin Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

“A Heartwarming Dessert Just Like Grandma’s”

📜 Introduction: A Taste of Tradition

Bread pudding is the kind of dish that feels like a hug from the past. Born from the desire to waste nothing, it has transformed from a frugal use of stale bread into a beloved dessert passed down through generations. The version with plump raisins and creamy vanilla sauce is a staple in many family kitchens—especially those where Grandma ruled the oven with love.

Warm, spiced, and richly nostalgic, this recipe wraps you in comfort and reminds you of Sunday dinners, old kitchens, and the soft hum of tradition. Whether you’re making it for a cozy evening in, a holiday gathering, or just because you miss a taste of the past, this recipe will never fail you.

🍞 Ingredients

For the Bread Pudding:

  • 6 cups day-old bread, cubed (preferably French bread, brioche, or challah)
  • ½ cup raisins (golden or regular)
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter (for greasing the pan)

Optional Add-Ins:

  • Zest of 1 orange (for brightness)
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (for crunch)

For the Vanilla Sauce:

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

🥄 Instructions

🧁 Step 1: Prep the Bread

  1. Cut your day-old bread into cubes (about 1-inch).
  2. Lightly butter a 9×9 inch or 9×13 inch baking dish.
  3. Place the bread cubes evenly in the baking dish and sprinkle the raisins over the top.

🥣 Step 2: Make the Custard

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Pour this custard mixture evenly over the bread and raisins.
  3. Gently press the bread down to help it absorb the liquid.
  4. Let the mixture sit for 20–30 minutes to soak fully.

🔥 Step 3: Bake the Pudding

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the dish in the center rack and bake for 45–55 minutes, or until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  3. Let cool slightly before serving.

🍯 Method for the Creamy Vanilla Sauce

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the milk, cream, sugar, and butter. Heat over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry.
  3. Slowly whisk the slurry into the warm milk mixture.
  4. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens (about 5–7 minutes).
  5. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
  6. Keep warm until ready to serve, or store covered in the fridge and reheat gently.

📚 History of Bread Pudding

Bread pudding dates back to at least the 11th century, often referred to as “poor man’s pudding.” Cooks and homemakers used stale bread soaked in milk or water, combined with eggs and spices, and baked into a satisfying, no-waste dessert. It’s been found in English, French, and even Middle Eastern traditions, always changing based on what ingredients were available.

In the American South, it evolved to include bourbon sauces or pecans, while in other places it took on more custardy or cake-like textures. The version with raisins and vanilla is a classic—simple, affordable, and utterly nostalgic.

❤️ A Recipe for Lovers of Tradition

This is a dessert for:

  • The nostalgic, who long for a taste of childhood.
  • The frugal foodie, who values using every last crumb.
  • The romantic, who sees cooking as a way to say “I love you.”
  • The family cook, who knows that the simplest dishes often carry the most love.

Serve it warm, drizzle with creamy vanilla sauce, and pair with a cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Sit down with someone you love—or just with your memories—and enjoy.

🎬 Formation of Flavors

  • The Bread: A sponge, it soaks up the rich custard, creating a pillowy, dense texture.
  • The Raisins: They swell and soften during baking, adding chewy sweetness.
  • The Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg provide that warm, “holiday” depth.
  • The Sauce: Smooth, creamy, and fragrant—like a hug in liquid form.

🥰 Conclusion: Made with Love

Whether you’re baking this for the holidays, a weekend treat, or just to remember the hands that made it before you, this bread pudding is more than a dessert. It’s a connection to the past, a celebration of simplicity, and a dish full of heart.

From Grandma’s table to yours, may it warm your home and sweeten your soul.

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