As the holiday season draws near, the scent of warm spices and comforting desserts fills the air. While there are countless festive treats to choose from, nothing quite captures the essence of cozy celebration like a perfectly baked bread pudding. And when you elevate it with the luxurious richness of brioche and challah, you’re not just making a dessert; you’re crafting a holiday memory.
This Brioche & Challah Holiday Bread Pudding recipe takes a classic comfort food to new heights. The tender, buttery crumbs of brioche meld with the eggy, slightly chewy texture of challah, all soaking up a creamy, spiced custard. It’s a symphony of textures and flavors that will undoubtedly become a new tradition at your holiday table.
Why Brioche and Challah Make the Best Holiday Bread Pudding
Choosing the right bread is paramount to a truly outstanding bread pudding, and brioche and challah are simply a match made in heaven for this dessert. Both breads are known for their richness and light sweetness, thanks to a higher content of eggs, butter (in brioche), and sometimes sugar. This makes them incredibly flavorful even before they’ve absorbed the custard.
- Brioche: Its high butter and egg content gives it an exceptionally tender, almost cake-like crumb. It’s naturally sweet and incredibly absorbent, leading to a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Challah: An eggy, slightly denser bread, challah provides a wonderful chewiness that contrasts beautifully with the brioche. It adds a lovely golden hue and a subtle, yeasty depth of flavor.
When combined, these two breads create a bread pudding that is simultaneously soft, custardy, and wonderfully substantial, preventing it from becoming a soggy mess. Plus, stale bread is your friend here! It absorbs the custard much better than fresh bread, ensuring every bite is infused with flavor.
Key Ingredients for a Decadent Treat
Beyond the stellar bread, the success of this holiday bread pudding lies in its rich, aromatic custard. We’re talking about a luscious blend of whole milk and heavy cream, ensuring a creamy texture that coats every piece of bread. Large eggs act as the binder, giving the pudding its signature custardy consistency, while granulated sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness.
The holiday magic truly comes alive with the spices: a generous tablespoon of vanilla extract, warm ground cinnamon, and a hint of earthy nutmeg. These spices evoke the festive spirit, making each spoonful feel like a warm hug. For an extra touch of richness, a bit of melted butter is incorporated, and a pinch of salt balances all the sweet flavors perfectly.
Tips for Bread Pudding Perfection
- Use Stale Bread: This is crucial! Cut your bread into 1-inch cubes a day in advance and leave it out to dry, or toast it lightly in a low oven for 10-15 minutes until just dry but not browned. This allows it to soak up the custard without turning mushy. You'll need a quality chef's knife for easy cubing!
- Don't Rush the Soaking: Give the bread at least 30 minutes, or even better, several hours (or overnight in the fridge) to soak in the custard. This ensures deep flavor penetration and an even texture.
- Bake Until Just Set: You want the pudding to be mostly set but still have a slight wobble in the center when gently shaken. Overbaking can lead to a dry, rubbery texture.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the bread pudding rest for 10-15 minutes after it comes out of the oven. This allows it to firm up slightly and makes it easier to serve.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
While this Brioche & Challah Holiday Bread Pudding is utterly delicious on its own, a few simple additions can take it to the next level. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of freshly whipped cream, or a drizzle of your favorite caramel or bourbon sauce. For an adult twist, a splash of rum or brandy can be added to the custard mixture before baking.
Making Ahead and Storing
One of the best things about bread pudding is how well it lends itself to advance preparation. You can assemble the entire dish, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated gently in the microwave or oven.
Get ready to impress your family and friends this holiday season with this magnificent Brioche & Challah Holiday Bread Pudding. It's more than just a dessert; it's a centerpiece, a conversation starter, and a truly heartwarming way to celebrate.
FAQs
What kind of bread is best for holiday bread pudding?
For a truly luxurious and rich holiday bread pudding, brioche and challah are exceptional choices. Their inherent richness, slight sweetness, and soft crumb absorb the custard beautifully, resulting in a wonderfully tender and flavorful dessert. Stale bread works best as it prevents the pudding from becoming soggy.
Can I make Brioche & Challah Holiday Bread Pudding ahead of time?
Yes, bread pudding is a fantastic make-ahead dessert! You can assemble the entire pudding, pour the custard over the bread, and let it soak in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight before baking. This allows the flavors to meld and ensures maximum tenderness. Reheat gently before serving.
What are the best serving suggestions for this holiday bread pudding?
This holiday bread pudding is delicious served warm on its own, but you can elevate it with various toppings. Classic choices include a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel or bourbon sauce, or a dusting of powdered sugar. A side of fresh berries also adds a lovely tart contrast.
Why combine brioche and challah bread in a bread pudding?
Combining brioche and challah brings the best of both worlds! Brioche offers a buttery, rich, and slightly sweet flavor with a delicate, tender crumb. Challah, known for its eggy richness and slightly chewy texture, adds structural integrity and another layer of flavor. Together, they create a bread pudding that is incredibly moist, flavorful, and holds its shape beautifully.
Brioche & Challah Holiday Bread Pudding
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (plus soaking time)
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A luxurious and comforting bread pudding made with brioche and challah, richly spiced and perfect for holiday gatherings and special occasions.
Ingredients
6 cups stale brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Pinch of salt
Optional: 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until well combined and the sugar has dissolved.
Step 3: Add the cubed stale brioche and challah bread to the custard mixture. Gently toss to ensure all bread cubes are coated. If using, stir in the optional raisins or dried cranberries.
Step 4: Let the bread soak in the custard for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight for best results. This allows the bread to fully absorb the liquid, ensuring a custardy interior.
Step 5: Pour the bread and custard mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top.
Step 6: Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a little custardy liquid is fine). The pudding should have a slight wobble in the center.
Step 7: Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the pudding to set further.
Step 8: Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve warm with your favorite toppings like vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce.
Notes
For an extra indulgent touch, add a splash of rum or brandy to the custard mixture. This pudding is excellent served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of homemade bourbon caramel sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
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