Favorite Bread and Butter Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

Favorite Bread and Butter Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Favorite Bread and Butter Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Southerners are especially clever about using up breads, raisins, and other dried fruits going stale. This frugal bread pudding—elegant enough for a party—is a case in point. The bread to use is firm-textured white bread (a.k.a. farm-style bread). I think raisin bread would be equally delicious though I've never tried it. And if I do, I'll omit the raisins or use half the amount called for. Tip: Only top-quality bourbon or sour mash whiskey will do for the sauce. Cheap brands lack flavor.
  • Preparing Time: -
  • Total Time: -
  • Served Person: Makes 6 Servings
Bourbon Brunch Dessert Bake Southern Spirit Whiskey Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 4 stale slices firm-textured white bread, crusts and all (see headnote)
  • 1/2 cup dark seedless raisins (see headnote)
  • 1/3 cup bourbon (see tip above)
  • Carbohydrate 46 g(15%)
  • Cholesterol 133 mg(44%)
  • Fat 17 g(26%)
  • Fiber 1 g(6%)
  • Protein 9 g(17%)
  • Saturated Fat 10 g(48%)
  • Sodium 276 mg(11%)
  • Calories 394

Preparation 1. Butter 1 1/2-quart casserole or spritz with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. 2. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter, cut each slice into four pieces of equal size, spread half of them in casserole, and sprinkle half of raisins on top. Repeat layers and set aside. 3. Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg at high electric mixer speed about 2 minutes until creamy. With mixer at low speed, add milk gradually, then half-and-half. 4. Pour over bread and raisins in casserole and let stand uncovered at room temperature 1 hour. After 40 minutes, preheat oven to 350°F. 5. When pudding has stood 1 hour, set in large shallow pan, and place on pulled-out middle oven shelf. Pour hot water into pan to depth of 1 inch, slide shelf into oven, and bake pudding uncovered about 1 hour until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. 6. Transfer casserole to wire rack and cool 20 minutes. 7. Meanwhile, prepare Bourbon Sauce: Combine sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, and salt in small nonreactive saucepan. Whisk in water and bourbon and continue whisking until smooth. Add butter, set over moderate heat, and cook, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes until thickened and translucent. Remove from heat, mix in lemon juice, and transfer to heated sauceboat. 8. Serve pudding warm at table, trickle a little sauce over each portion, and pass the rest. From From a Southern Oven: The Savories, the Sweets by Jean Anderson. Copyright © 2012 by Jean Anderson; photography copyright © 2012 by Jason Wyche. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Preparation 1. Butter 1 1/2-quart casserole or spritz with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. 2. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter, cut each slice into four pieces of equal size, spread half of them in casserole, and sprinkle half of raisins on top. Repeat layers and set aside. 3. Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg at high electric mixer speed about 2 minutes until creamy. With mixer at low speed, add milk gradually, then half-and-half. 4. Pour over bread and raisins in casserole and let stand uncovered at room temperature 1 hour. After 40 minutes, preheat oven to 350°F. 5. When pudding has stood 1 hour, set in large shallow pan, and place on pulled-out middle oven shelf. Pour hot water into pan to depth of 1 inch, slide shelf into oven, and bake pudding uncovered about 1 hour until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. 6. Transfer casserole to wire rack and cool 20 minutes. 7. Meanwhile, prepare Bourbon Sauce: Combine sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, and salt in small nonreactive saucepan. Whisk in water and bourbon and continue whisking until smooth. Add butter, set over moderate heat, and cook, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes until thickened and translucent. Remove from heat, mix in lemon juice, and transfer to heated sauceboat. 8. Serve pudding warm at table, trickle a little sauce over each portion, and pass the rest. From From a Southern Oven: The Savories, the Sweets by Jean Anderson. Copyright © 2012 by Jean Anderson; photography copyright © 2012 by Jason Wyche. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.