Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

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🍞🤎 Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

🌾 Introduction

This is the kind of dessert that fills the kitchen with warmth and memories. Grandma’s old-fashioned bread pudding was never about fancy ingredients—it was about love, comfort, and making something wonderful from what you already had. Soft cubes of day-old bread soak up a sweet, spiced custard, then bake into a cozy, spoon-soft pudding finished with a rich vanilla sauce poured on top. Simple, timeless, and always satisfying.

🥖 Ingredients

Bread Pudding

  • 4 cups day-old bread, cubed (white, brioche, or French bread)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional but traditional)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup raisins or chopped dried fruit (optional)

Vanilla Sauce

  • ½ cup heavy cream or milk
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thicker sauce)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Bread Pudding

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
  2. Spread the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, sugar, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. Pour the mixture over the bread, gently pressing the bread down so it absorbs the liquid.
  5. Sprinkle raisins or dried fruit over the top if using.
  6. Let the mixture rest for 10–15 minutes to fully soak.
  7. Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until the center is set and the top is lightly golden.

Vanilla Sauce

  1. In a small saucepan, combine cream (or milk), sugar, and butter.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.
  3. Add vanilla extract.
  4. If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold milk and stir into the pan.
  5. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.

🔥 Cooking Methods

  • Baking: Gentle oven heat transforms soaked bread into a soft, custard-like pudding with a lightly crisp top.
  • Stovetop Simmering: Slow heating ensures the vanilla sauce stays smooth and creamy without burning.

📜 History

Bread pudding dates back hundreds of years and was created as a way to avoid wasting stale bread. Known as a “poor man’s dessert,” it became popular in homes where thrift met creativity. Over generations, families passed it down, adding spices, fruit, or sauces—making it a treasured comfort food around the world.

🧁 Formation & Texture

  • Interior: Soft, moist, and custardy
  • Top: Lightly crisp and golden
  • Sauce: Warm, velvety, and sweet with vanilla

Together, they create a dessert that melts in your mouth.

❤️ Loved By

  • Fans of classic, old-fashioned desserts
  • Families who love cozy comfort food
  • Holiday and Sunday dinner tables
  • Anyone who believes simple desserts are the best

🍽️ Serving Methods Everyone Loves

  • Served warm with extra vanilla sauce
  • With a scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • Sprinkled with powdered sugar or cinnamon
  • Enjoyed chilled the next day (still delicious!)

✨ Conclusion

Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce is proof that humble ingredients can create unforgettable comfort. It’s warm, nostalgic, and full of heart—exactly the kind of dessert that brings people together, one spoonful at a time.

👉 Must express something to keep getting my recipes… thank you! 🥰🍮

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