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Annnnd we’re at Thanksgiving again…Thanksgiving dessert to be more specific.
Bread pudding has to be one of the most satisfying desserts on the planet, not only because it’s so sweet and indulgent, but also because it’s one of those desserts (or breakfasts!) that require little to no preparation — a factor that’s welcomed with open arms when you’re preparing an entire Thanksgiving meal from start to finish.
Of course, you have to have your obligatory pies and tarts at Thanksgiving, because without them, you’re bound to upset someone by shying away from tradition. But I also love to have one “wild card” dessert among the classic pumpkin and pecan pies we all love so much that’s juuust a little bit different.
This eggnog pumpkin bread pudding is one that still represents the holiday perfectly, but is a bit untraditional and unexpected. It still hits all the festive dessert notes with plenty of pumpkin flavor, fall spices and some seriously indulgent qualities from sweet eggnog, but it isn’t necessarily something Grandma might expect.
As the name implies, the base of bread pudding begins with bread, and even though you’re free to use pretty much any type of bread of your choice, I happen to love a good-quality crusty ciabatta loaf. It just soaks up the custard a little better than a softer variety, and the oven crisps up those crusty edges even more while it bakes, resulting in a lovely texture contrast of a soft, gooey inside and a super crisp exterior that I just adore.
Normally, I’d use whole milk and eggs for the base of the custard portion in a classic bread pudding, but here, I upped up the richness and used a combination of sweet eggnog and whole milk instead for something a little more indulgent and holiday-worthy. Whisk in pumpkin puree for another element of festiveness, along with plenty of ground cinnamon, a little nutmeg and a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar for added sweetness.
Pour the custard over the bread, leave it to rest for a few minutes so the bread can soak up the liquid and then pop it in the oven until it’s beautifully browned and puffed. I like to garnish it with a little bit of powdered sugar and serve piping hot, but it’s also delicious after it’s cooled off a bit.
If you’re feeling extra indulgent, serve a warm piece of pudding with a giant scoop of cold vanilla ice cream…
- 1 lb. loaf of ciabatta, cut into ½” cubes (about 10 cups)
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 cups International Delight® Classic Nog
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- Powdered sugar for garnish
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 9”x 13.5” (2 quart) oval baking dish.
- Spread the bread cubs on a baking sheet. Bake until slightly crisp but not brown, about 8 minutes. Cool and pour into the greased baking dish.
- Whisk together the pumpkin, eggnog, milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Pour the mixture on top the bread cubes and gently use the back of a wooden spoon to press the bread into the liquid. Let soak for 15 minutes.
- Place the baking dish on a large baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake until the pudding is puffed and golden brown, about 60-65 minutes.
- Let the pudding cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm,
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Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
this looks SO good Nicole, I’m obsessed! do you think a brioche bread would work with this? I seriously want to make it x
Lori schultz says
Hi Nicole,
I love your blog! I’m having company for breakfast tomorrow and I thought to make the prep easier, I would prepare tonight and have sit in the fridge and then bake it in the morning. Do you know if premixing and letting it sit in the fridge overnight will work ok?
Thank you for sharing this recipe:)
-lori http://www.housewifeandmommylife.com
Nicole says
Thanks so much Lori! Yes! You should be able to do that, just make sure your bread is really dried out, and you may have to bake it a little bit longer than the the recipe suggests.