Description
Warm spices dance through this classic pumpkin bread pudding, blending comfort and indulgence in every rich, custardy bite. Fall’s favorite dessert invites you to savor seasonal flavors with a delightful twist that celebrates home-style baking’s simplest pleasures.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf challah or brioche bread (cubed (about 6 cups))
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) pumpkin puree
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk
Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and generously coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Create a silky custard base by vigorously whisking pumpkin, cream, milk, eggs, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and warm autumnal spices until completely smooth and integrated.
- Distribute bread cubes evenly across the prepared baking dish, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Gently cascade the rich pumpkin custard over the bread pieces, methodically ensuring each cube is thoroughly saturated and coated.
- Allow the bread to rest and absorb the luxurious custard mixture for approximately 15-20 minutes, enabling maximum flavor absorption.
- Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, monitoring until the surface transforms into a deep golden hue.
- Confirm doneness by inserting a knife into the center – it should emerge clean – and observing a slight tremor in the center when gently nudged, indicating perfect custard consistency.
Notes
- Choose day-old or slightly stale bread for better absorption of the pumpkin custard mixture, ensuring a more luxurious texture.
- Swap white bread with whole wheat or gluten-free bread to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising flavor.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts on top before baking for extra crunch and nutty depth to the dessert.
- Serve warm with a dollop of vanilla whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce to elevate the indulgence factor and create a more decadent dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg