Description
Creamy banana bread pudding brings comfort and nostalgia to dessert lovers, blending classic flavors with homemade warmth. Spiced with cinnamon and drizzled with caramel, this sweet treat wraps you in delightful memories of home-baked goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Bread Pudding
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (946 ml) cubed bread (French bread, brioche, or challah)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 cups (473 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
Sweeteners and Spices:
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 banana, sliced
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
- Caramel sauce or powdered sugar (for serving)
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to a moderate temperature, preparing an 8-inch square ceramic or glass baking vessel with a light butter coating to prevent sticking.
- Carefully tear bread into rustic, bite-sized cubes and arrange them in a uniform layer across the bottom of the prepared dish, creating a textured foundation.
- Create a luxurious custard base by whisking together ripe, velvety mashed bananas with creamy dairy elements, combining refined and brown sugars, fresh eggs, aromatic vanilla extract, warming spices like ground cinnamon and nutmeg, and a delicate touch of sea salt until smooth and fully integrated.
- Gently cascade the fragrant custard mixture over the bread cubes, using gentle pressure to ensure each bread piece becomes thoroughly saturated. Allow the mixture to rest and absorb flavors for approximately 10 minutes, enabling complete liquid integration.
- Delicately drizzle melted butter across the surface, creating a golden, rich top layer that will develop a beautiful caramelized finish during baking.
- Transfer the dish to the preheated oven, allowing it to transform for 40-45 minutes until the pudding achieves a beautiful golden-brown color and sets with a gentle, slightly wobbling center.
- Upon removing from the oven, embellish the pudding with fresh banana medallions and toasted pecan fragments, presenting the dessert while still warm and accompanied by a decadent caramel sauce or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Notes
- Ensure bread is slightly stale for better absorption, as day-old bread soaks up custard more effectively and creates a richer texture.
- Experiment with different bread types like brioche or challah for varied richness and depth of flavor.
- Dairy-free option works perfectly by substituting milk and cream with coconut milk or almond milk for a lighter, plant-based version.
- Reduce sugar content by using ripe bananas, which naturally add sweetness, allowing you to cut down on added sugars without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg