Steaming Bread Pudding: A Comforting Dessert

Bread pudding is a dessert with a long history, believed to have originated as a way for cooks to use up stale bread. The dish is simple to make and only requires a few basic ingredients. To make bread pudding by steaming, you'll need stale bread, custard, and a steamer. Cut the bread into small pieces and soak them in the custard, before steaming for around 35 minutes. The result is a delicious, moist pudding that can be enjoyed as a sweet treat or dessert.

Prepare ingredients: stale bread, custard, and optional dried fruit

To make a steamed bread pudding, you'll need stale bread, custard, and dried fruit (optional).

Stale Bread

Stale bread is the base of a good bread pudding. It's best to use bread that is at least a day old, as this will help the bread absorb the custard without falling apart. You can use any type of stale bread you have, such as French bread, brioche, sourdough, or even leftover sandwich bread. If your bread is not stale, you can pop it in the toaster or oven at a low temperature to dry it out. Cut the bread into small cubes or shreds; this will make it easier for the bread to absorb the custard.

Custard

The custard is what transforms the stale bread into a delicious pudding. To make the custard, you'll need eggs, milk, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract. You can also add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom to taste. Whisk these ingredients together in a separate bowl before pouring them over the stale bread.

Dried Fruit (Optional)

Raisins are a classic addition to bread pudding, but you can use any type of dried fruit you like, such as cranberries, apricots, or cherries. If you want to include dried fruit in your pudding, soak them in rum or water before adding them to the bread mixture.

Once you have prepared your ingredients, simply combine the custard and bread, let it soak, and then steam or bake your pudding until it's cooked through.

Assemble: cut bread into cubes, add dried fruit, and pour custard over

To assemble your bread pudding, you'll need to cut your bread into cubes, add dried fruit, and pour custard over.

First, cut your stale bread into small cubes. You can use any type of stale bread you like, but French bread is a popular choice. Cut the bread into cubes of around 1 inch in size.

Next, add dried fruit. Raisins are a classic choice, but you can also use other dried fruits such as cranberries, apricots, or cherries. If you like, you can soak the raisins in rum or water before adding them to your pudding.

Finally, prepare your custard and pour it over the bread and dried fruit. You can make a simple custard by whisking together eggs, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure you mix well, so that the sugar dissolves. Pour the custard over the bread and dried fruit, and let it soak for at least 30 minutes, or until the bread has absorbed most of the custard.

Soak: let the bread absorb the custard for 20-25 minutes

So, you've shredded or cut your stale bread into small pieces, and soaked your raisins in rum or water. You've also prepared your custard and poured it over the bread. Now, it's time to let the bread soak.

Letting the bread soak is a crucial step in making proper bread pudding. You want the dry bread to absorb as much of the custard as possible. This will ensure your pudding has the desired custardy texture and that none of your mixture goes to waste.

Let the bread stand for at least 20 to 25 minutes, or until it has soaked up most of the custard. It should be very moist but no longer floating. If your bread is still floating, it hasn't absorbed enough liquid and you risk ending up with a strange separated layer in your pudding.

Cook: steam for 35 minutes or bake for 40-45 minutes

Once you've prepared your bread pudding for steaming, it's time to cook it! There are two methods you can use: steaming or baking. If you choose to steam your bread pudding, it will need to steam for around 35 minutes. Alternatively, if you decide to bake it, it will need to be in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Steaming

First, prepare and preheat your steamer. While you're waiting for the steamer to heat up, line the bottom of your baking pan with parchment paper. This step is optional but will make it easier to remove the pudding from the pan later.

Once the steamer is ready, place your bread pudding in the steamer and steam for around 35 minutes. To check if it's done, insert a toothpick into the centre of the pudding – if it comes out clean, your bread pudding is ready to be enjoyed!

Baking

Preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven is heating up, prepare your bread pudding by following the steps outlined earlier in this guide.

Place your prepared bread pudding in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. The pudding is done when it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Serve: enjoy warm or cold, with ice cream or sauce

Bread pudding is a versatile dessert that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some serving suggestions to elevate your bread pudding experience:

Warm or Cold

Bread pudding can be enjoyed either warm or cold, depending on your preference. Warm bread pudding is a comforting option, especially when served with a scoop of ice cream that slowly melts into the pudding. On the other hand, cold bread pudding is refreshing and can be a delightful treat straight from the refrigerator.

With Ice Cream

A scoop of vanilla ice cream is a classic accompaniment to bread pudding. The cold, creamy ice cream provides a delightful contrast to the warm, soft pudding. The ice cream slowly melts, creating a delicious sauce that enhances the flavours of the pudding. This combination is a favourite for many and is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

With Sauce

For an extra indulgent treat, serve your bread pudding with a generous drizzle of sauce. A simple vanilla sauce can be made by melting butter in a saucepan, then adding sugar, cream, and vanilla extract. Stir this mixture over low heat until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Alternatively, a brown sugar sauce can be made by browning butter in a saucepan and then adding brown sugar and vanilla extract. The brown sugar adds a crunchy texture that pairs perfectly with the soft pudding. These sauces not only enhance the flavour of the pudding but also add a visually appealing touch to your dessert.

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