Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 4 cups day-old bread, cubed (white bread, brioche, or challah work best)

• 2 cups milk

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional but very traditional)

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• Optional add-ins: ¼ cup raisins or chopped dates

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.

2. Spread the bread cubes evenly in the dish.

3. In a bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, sugars, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

4. Pour the mixture over the bread. Gently press the bread down so it soaks up the liquid.

5. Let sit for 10–15 minutes for a softer pudding.

6. Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until the top is golden and the center is set.

Grandma’s Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients

• ½ cup heavy cream (or milk)

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Combine cream, brown sugar, and butter in a small saucepan.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and sauce thickens slightly (about 5 minutes).

3. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt.

To Serve

Spoon warm vanilla sauce generously over warm bread pudding.
Optional extras: a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a light dusting of powdered sugar.

If you’d like, I can also:

• Make it extra custardy

• Adapt it for less sugar

• Turn it into a slow-cooker version

• Add a holiday twist 🎄