Description
Comfort meets indulgence in this Pioneer Woman bread pudding, a Southern classic that warms hearts. Rich custard and bread meld together, creating a dessert you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 stick (½ cup / 113 g) butter
- 2 tbsps melted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup pecans, finely chopped
- ¼ cup Jack Daniel’s whiskey (or non-alcoholic vanilla extract for non-alcoholic version)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325°F (163°C) for optimal baking conditions.
- Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and whole milk in a large mixing bowl until smoothly blended, then gradually incorporate granulated sugar until completely dissolved.
- Bread Layering: Arrange sourdough bread cubes in a 9-inch square baking dish, strategically positioning crusts to ensure even texture and cooking, then thoroughly saturate the bread with the egg and milk mixture.
- Nutty Enhancement: Sprinkle finely chopped pecans evenly across the surface of the soaked bread, distributing for consistent flavor and texture.
- Baking Process: Bake for 55-70 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and a slightly wobbly center that indicates perfect doneness.
- Whiskey Cream Sauce: Simultaneously prepare the sauce by combining sugar, unsalted butter, and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture simmers.
- Sauce Finishing: Remove sauce from heat and incorporate whiskey (or non-alcoholic alternative), blending flavors thoroughly.
- Serving Presentation: Allow pudding to rest briefly after baking, then serve warm with a generous drizzle of whiskey cream sauce, creating a luxurious and comforting dessert experience.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old or slightly stale sourdough bread for better absorption and richer texture, preventing soggy results.
- Even Saturation Technique: Pour egg mixture slowly and gently, ensuring each bread cube gets completely and uniformly coated for consistent flavor and moisture.
- Temperature Precision: Keep oven temperature steady at 325°F and place rack in center to prevent uneven baking or burnt edges.
- Sauce Stirring Strategy: Continuously stir whiskey cream sauce while heating to prevent burning and achieve smooth, silky consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 39 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg