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Grandma's bread pudding served with homemade vanilla sauce, a delicious dessert treat.

Grandma’s Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

A warm, comforting dessert that transforms leftover bread into a deliciously sweet treat, complemented by a creamy vanilla sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Bread Pudding
  • 6 cups day-old bread, cut into cubes Use a mixture of different breads like challah or brioche for more flavor.
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk For richness, you can use cream instead.
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
For the Vanilla Sauce
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish with butter.
  2. Cut day-old bread into bite-sized cubes and spread them evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle raisins over the bread if using.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and melted butter until smooth.
  4. Pour custard mixture over bread cubes, ensuring all are coated.
  5. Gently press bread down to absorb custard. Let sit for 15-20 minutes.
Baking
  1. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and set.
Vanilla Sauce Preparation
  1. For the vanilla sauce, whisk together milk, cream, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Cook, stirring for 5-7 minutes until thick.
  3. Stir in butter and vanilla until smooth.
Serving
  1. Allow pudding to cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm with vanilla sauce.

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven before serving. The pudding may firm up a bit in the fridge, but it will still taste delicious. For a chocolate version, add cocoa powder to the custard mixture or use chocolate chips in place of raisins. You can also try different spices, like cardamom or cloves, for a unique flavor.