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Home » Desserts

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

Published: Oct 27, 2020 · Last Modified: Nov 28, 2021 by Anecia

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The holidays aren't complete without a little homemade Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce!

It seems very fancy when you're serving it...our little secret...it's really easy to make!

You'll find bread pudding on just about every restaurant menu in New Orleans. Some are very dense, while others are a little more fluffy. 

This recipe is fluffy, not dense and, if you don't care for raisins, no problem! Leave 'em out! 

 

A spoonful of bread pudding with raisings in glass bowl on white doile.
Delicious bread custard pudding with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, nestled in a warm whiskey sauce with raisins.

We like to make bread pudding every Christmas! We found a bread pudding recipe my Mother has -- the handwritten note on the scratch pad says, "delicious- from a Creole restaurant." 

This was written in the early 80's. Then it lists the ingredients with a few measurements for the cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as heating instructions--vague, to say the least.

We studied that recipe and had many questions:

how much bread?

what kind of bread?

what size pan?

So, we started comparing her "recipe" to others...we found that many required similar ingredients, but in different proportions...some used cream versus whole milk while others used half-n-half.

I knew if we had that many questions, you would, too. So, I've tried to address every question in order to make this seemingly difficult bread pudding recipe even easier!

Read the Tips below and recipe notes first...

Jump to:
  • What is bread pudding?
  • Why you'll love this recipe!
  • What you'll need
  • How to make it
  • What kind of bourbon whiskey to use
  • Tips for bread pudding
  • Tips for the whiskey/bourbon sauce
  • Make ahead
  • Serving suggestions
  • Related recipes
  • 📋 Recipe

What is bread pudding?

Bread pudding is a bread-based custard, typically with warm seasonings of cinnamon and nutmeg. It often includes currants (raisins) and is served with warm liquer-based sauce such as whiskey bourbon or a hard sauce.

The concept is originally from Europe and was considered "poor man's food"- bread, soaked in milk and eggs and baked.

The recipe was altered and bread pudding escalated to fine dining restaurants in Louisiana, most notably in New Orleans.  Now, you'll find this warm bread pudding on just about every menu in the state!

Why you'll love this recipe!

Easy to make - pretty straight-forward; nothing too difficult, but it does requre time to soak the bread

Flavorful - sweet, but not too sweet

Make ahead - you can make bread pudding and the sauce in advance; a great time-saver

Light and airy - cooking the bread pudding custard in a hot water bath creates steam, which keeps the dessert light

Great texture! -the top is lightly crunchy and the custard is soft, but not mushy

This recipe is not hard to make, but it is IMPORTANT you read the tips below, as well as the recipe notes before you begin.

What you'll need

The ingredients for this easy bread pudding recipe are pretty simple; in fact, you've probably got everything you need in your kitchen already!

Ingredients labeled on counter top.

6 cups of cubed bread, milk, half-n-half, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, butter, sugar and whiskey bourbon (not pictured)

If you've ever had a chance to have a bowl of Louisiana gumbo or Shrimp Etouffee at Commander's Palace, then you'll understand why this dessert is perfect after a rich savory Cajun or Creole meal!

The fluffiness and sweetness offsets the rich flavors in the entree and makes for the perfect end to a delicious meal.

How to make it

This classic Louisiana dessert relies on steam and oven heat to bake it to a nice golden brown. The result is fluffy - and not dense or gooey.

Preheat oven to 350ºF, put top rack in the middle slot of the oven and prepare the pans.

Square glass baking dish in large metal pan.

 

Next, get the bread and custard mixture together

 

Three steps showing how to prepare.

After bread has soaked for an hour, pour it and the liquid into the glass baking dish; bake uncovered on middle rack at 350ºF until center is set.

What kind of bourbon whiskey to use

You can make the sauce with any kind of bourbon whiskey - it doesn't have to be "high-end" or fancy. We use Kentucky Straight Bourbon for this recipe because we like to have a sip while we're making the whiskey sauce.

If you're not gonna have a little "snort" then don't worry about what kind of bourbon you get. But, if you ARE gonna have a little "snort," get a good-quality bourbon-something you'd offer to a friend!

Whiskey sauce in pan.

Use a double boiler and melt butter on low heat; remove from heat and allow to cool about 10-minutes

Combine sugar and eggs in separate bowl

Gradually add sugar mixture to melted butter off heat - this means, remove the melted butter pan off the stovetop

Once all the sugar mixture has been added to the melted butter, return the saucepan back to the double boiler and continue cooking until most of the sugar is dissolved

When sugar is dissolved; remove from heat and allow to cool

Add whiskey, stir and drizzle over warm bread pudding

Tips for bread pudding

Use an 8 x 8" baking dish (2-quart) for the pudding; you'll need a larger bowl for the hot-water bath

You'll need about 6 cups of cubed bread; this is equivalent to one skinny French baguette or half a loaf of the bigger French breads usually found in grocery store deli's

Cut the bread into ½" inch cubes

Ovens vary, so check the center with a knife after about 40-minutes

Place on middle rack in hot-water bath; this helps the custard set-up and keeps the top of the bread pudding from getting too crispy

Tips for the whiskey/bourbon sauce

Be patient when you're making Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce!

The sauce cooks for about 10-minutes on low heat. This is because, if you add the sugar/egg mixture to hot butter, the egg will cook so, you have to work on super-low heat and work in increments.

Melt the butter on low in a double-boiler; remove from heat and allow to cool a bit

While the butter is off heat, gradually add in the sugar/egg mixture in increments, stirring well between 

Once all the sugar/mixture has been added to the slightly warm butter, return the double-boiler sauce pans to the burner on low heat, stirring constantly 

Continue stirring for about 3-4 minutes on low heat

As the sugar begins to dissolve, you can turn the heat up a little-still stirring constantly

After about 8-10 minutes, most of the sugar is dissolved; remove from heat and allow to cool before adding the whiskey

You only need about 3 tablespoons of whiskey for the sauce itself, but if you want to "sneak-a-sip," you'll need more:)

Make ahead

You can make this easy bread pudding and/or the whiskey sauce in advance. I recommend you bake it first, then refrigerate it versus refrigerating it unbaked...the eggs are the issue. 

To reheat baked bread pudding, set the oven to 300ºF, cover the dish with foil, and bake 25-minutes, until the center is warm. 

To reheat the sauce, place it in a saucepan on low heat and stir until the sugars are dissolved and the whiskey sauce is smooth and warm.

Serving suggestions

This classic Louisiana dessert goes great with just about everything! Serve it on a small plate or in individual ramekins. 

If serving for a large group, double the recipes and the plate bread pudding in individual, oven-proof ramekins. Keep the sauce warm on the side for self-serving. 

To keep it warm for longer periods, place it in a steaming rack with a little water in the pan

Use a hot-mitt when serving individual ramekins - THEY GET HOT from the steam!

Whiskey sauce drizzled over bread pudding in fluted glass bowl.

If you can't get to The Crescent City, take a few minutes to prepare this delicious homemade bread pudding (with whiskey sauce) - your guests will love it!

Related recipes

  • Rum Glazed Scandinavian Almond Cake
  • Texas Pecan Bars
  • Classic Southern Pecan Pie
  • Old Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Pie
  • Orange Italian Cream Cake
  • Gingerbread Bundt Cake
  • Homemade Whipped Cream
  • Microwave Peanut Brittle

If you make this recipe, please scroll down and leave a rating and comment! I love to hear from you!

📋 Recipe

Whiskey sauce drizzled over bread pudding in fluted glass bowl

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

A Louisiana Classic! Homemade bread pudding with a flavorful custard served with warm whiskey sauce
5 from 3 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French, Irish
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Time to soak bread: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Total Yield: 12 servings
Author: Anecia Hero
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • 8" x 8" inch baking pan (2 quart pan)
  • 9 x 13" pan to hold water

Ingredients 

Pudding Ingredients

  • 6 cups dried bread , cubed; (one long skinny French baguette or 3 7-inch hoagie rolls or ½ a loaf of Italian bread)
  • 1 cup half-n-half
  • 1½ cups milk , whole (you can use 2%)
  • 4 whole large eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon nutmeg
  • 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon butter , to coat baking dish

Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 whole egg
  • 3 tablespoons whiskey

Instructions 

  • Cut bread into cubes (you need about 6 cups of cubed bread total)
    6 cups dried bread
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, half n half, sugar, eggs, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins
    1 cup half-n-half, 1½ cups milk, 4 whole large eggs, 2 cups sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon nutmeg, 1½ teaspoons cinnamon, 1 cup raisins
  • Pour mixture over bread; coat well; allow to rest for 1 hour (stir occasionally)
  • Preheat oven to 350ºF
  • Put 8 x 8" baking pan in 9 x 13" pan; add water to the 9 x 13" until it the pan is half full
  • Pour soaked bread and liquid into 8 x 8" greased pan
    1 tablespoon butter
  • Place both pans in oven on the middle rack, uncovered; bake 45-60 minutes on 350ºF until center is set (test with knife)
  • While the pudding is baking make the sauce; melt one stick of butter in a double boiler on low heat; remove from heat; set aside
    1 stick butter
  • In a bowl, combine sugar and egg
    1 cup sugar, 1 whole egg
  • Gradually add sugar/egg combination to melted butter (off heat), stirring constantly; return pan back to low heat; continue stirring; as sugar begins to dissolve, you can turn the heat up a little; when sugar is dissolved, remove pan from heat and set aside; allow to cool a little before the next step
  • Stir in whiskey; plate bread pudding and drizzle warm sauce over it
    3 tablespoons whiskey

Notes

Serving/Portions:
This recipe makes a full 8 x 8" (2 quart) pan of bread pudding; the number of servings depends upon the size spoon you use. I used a standard serving spoon (not a teaspoon) and got anywhere from 12 - 16 servings. 
Pan Size:
  • If you're making this for a big group, I recommend you double the recipe and bake it in a 9 x 13" pan.
  • If you use a 9 X 13" pan, you're going to need a bigger pan to put the water in...get one of those aluminum pans at the grocery store, but be careful when removing it from the oven--take the 9 x 13" pan out first; then the aluminum pan with hot water
Bread:
You'll need 6 cups of cubed bread. This is equivalent to:
  • 3-7"inch hoagies
  • 1 skinny French baguette
  • ½ loaf of Italian bread
Make the cubes small--bite size-about ½"inch 
Milk/Cream:
This recipe calls for milk (whole) and half-n-half. If you only have 2% milk, use that. If you don't have half-n-half, use heavy cream in the same proportion as the half-n-half.
 
Sauce:
  • Use a double-boiler to make the sauce
  • Allow the butter to cool slightly off-heat before adding the sugar/egg mixture, otherwise, the eggs will cook
  • Add the sugar/egg mixture in increments, not all at once--stirring constantly
  • Once all the sugar/egg mixture is combined, return the saucepan to the stove on low heat; stir, stir, stir...you'll begin to see the sugar dissolve
  • Once you see the mixture becoming less grainy, you can turn the heat up a little
  • After mixture is relatively smooth and not too grainy, remove from heat; allow to cool about 10-minutes before adding the whiskey
Booze:
  • 3-tablespoons of whiskey bourbon or dark rum
  • You can eliminate the booze in the sauce if you like

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 1cupCalories: 687kcalCarbohydrates: 122gProtein: 12gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 827mgPotassium: 296mgFiber: 4gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 385IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 157mgIron: 4mg
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Anecia Hero, Food Blogger

About SmartyPantsKitchen

I'm Anecia, a native Texan, author, cook and photographer for SmartyPantsKitchen where I'm sharing Traditional and Contemporary Southern recipes for cooks of all levels. There's nothing fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, delicious and memorable! Take a tour and check out delicious recipes! 

Learn more about me →

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