Amish bread pudding
Bread. It's been called the staff of life for thousands of years. It's simple, satisfying, life-sustaining. And cheap.
I enjoyed baking bread while I was working on One Child, my Amish novella to be published in the collection An Amish Christmas along with stories by Beth and Kathy (it's due out in August). I was a stay-at-home mom for a number of years and I became quite domestic. I baked bread, made vegetable soup -- every meal, really -- from scratch, and even sewed clothes for myself and my family. Okay, so the one shirt I made for my husband had snaps instead of buttonholes because I couldn't seem to make good buttonholes. But the little dresses I made for my daughter were quite well done. I loved that time in my life.
I always felt a sense of calm as I kneaded the bread dough and the scent of it baking drew the family into the kitchen. We could hardly wait for it to come out of the oven to eat it. Today, I'll admit to using a bread machine sometimes but that smell of it baking is just the same -- delicious and warm and comforting.
There's not usually a lot of homemade bread left to make bread pudding but you can use store-bought bread and it'll taste just as good. Bread pudding is made by cooks from many cultures. Here in the South, it's a staple dessert. My father was born in South Carolina and it was his favorite dessert. Simple pleasures, he'd say. Forget fancy food. He wanted corn bread, fried chicken, greens, and bread pudding.
Here's a good recipe for Amish bread pudding I got when I visited Lancaster County. You can vary it as you like -- make it with something as simple as cinnamon raisin bread or as fancy as croissants or brioche. I've even seen recipes for chocolate bread pudding and Amaretto bread pudding. I've been meaning to try that last one to use up the Amaretto I bought last Christmas.
Do you have a favorite bread pudding recipe? I'd love to hear about it.
Amish Bread Pudding
2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter (margarine just isn't as good)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups white bread cut or torn into pieces
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine milk and butter in a pan and stir until butter melts. Let cool. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sugar, and nutmeg. Beat together. Add cooled milk mixture and stir until blended. Grease a large casserole dish and place bread in it. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread and bake for about 50 minutes or until set.
I enjoyed baking bread while I was working on One Child, my Amish novella to be published in the collection An Amish Christmas along with stories by Beth and Kathy (it's due out in August). I was a stay-at-home mom for a number of years and I became quite domestic. I baked bread, made vegetable soup -- every meal, really -- from scratch, and even sewed clothes for myself and my family. Okay, so the one shirt I made for my husband had snaps instead of buttonholes because I couldn't seem to make good buttonholes. But the little dresses I made for my daughter were quite well done. I loved that time in my life.
I always felt a sense of calm as I kneaded the bread dough and the scent of it baking drew the family into the kitchen. We could hardly wait for it to come out of the oven to eat it. Today, I'll admit to using a bread machine sometimes but that smell of it baking is just the same -- delicious and warm and comforting.
There's not usually a lot of homemade bread left to make bread pudding but you can use store-bought bread and it'll taste just as good. Bread pudding is made by cooks from many cultures. Here in the South, it's a staple dessert. My father was born in South Carolina and it was his favorite dessert. Simple pleasures, he'd say. Forget fancy food. He wanted corn bread, fried chicken, greens, and bread pudding.
Here's a good recipe for Amish bread pudding I got when I visited Lancaster County. You can vary it as you like -- make it with something as simple as cinnamon raisin bread or as fancy as croissants or brioche. I've even seen recipes for chocolate bread pudding and Amaretto bread pudding. I've been meaning to try that last one to use up the Amaretto I bought last Christmas.
Do you have a favorite bread pudding recipe? I'd love to hear about it.
Amish Bread Pudding
2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter (margarine just isn't as good)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups white bread cut or torn into pieces
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine milk and butter in a pan and stir until butter melts. Let cool. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sugar, and nutmeg. Beat together. Add cooled milk mixture and stir until blended. Grease a large casserole dish and place bread in it. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread and bake for about 50 minutes or until set.
I have never tried to make bread pudding. When I cook eggs they haveto be completely done "No runny White at all", I have a weak stomach... Do you think I would have any luck in making this recipe? Thanks, Patti
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Hi Patti,
I'm with you on the hating runny white stuff. Ick! There won't be any with this recipe if you just beat the mixture well before pouring it over the bread. Then put it right into the oven. Test with a toothpick when the baking time is over as you would a cake and you'll be fine. This is a surprisingly rich tasting dessert for such simple ingredients. I think you'll like it.
Best baking wishes!
Barbara
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Barbara,
I am from Arkansas and we southern Midwest folks like bread pudding too. I like mine without raisins. Can't wait to try this. My daughter loves bread pudding also and I can't wait to make this as a surprise for her.
Susan
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Hi Susan,
I bet if we looked ,we'd find a version of bread pudding in every state!
Sometimes I like raisins and sometimes I don't. It's strange.
Right after I wrote this entry on AmishHearts I watched a Food Network show where a chef made bread pudding out of doughnuts. Then I remembered Paula Deen once made one out of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. She is so funny and so willing to just raise the bar another level on just about every recipe! I guess I have to try it sometime.
Hope your daughter enjoys the bread pudding recipe!
Hugs,
Barbara
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I have never eaten Bread Pudding. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I am going to make it. It sounds delicious.
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Hi. I live in St.Louis and was raised on Bread Pudding. My Mother (and now myself) always added a can of fruit cocktail and a can of pitted sour cherries - m-m-m Good ! Try it , you'll like it ! Mary
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I just sent a comment,that I said I add a can of pitted sour cherries and a can of fruit cocktail to Bread pudding, --- I forgot to add, that they must be WELL-Drained, or it will be a soggy mess. Thanks again. Mary
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