Recipe: The Coffee Pot Creole Bread Pudding with 6 Variations and 3 Sauces

CREOLE BREAD PUDDING

"Years ago when I lived in the French Quarter, I frequently enjoyed this treat at the Coffee Pot, where Pearl made it every day. Before leaving New Orleans, I talked her out of the recipe, which has been a standby in my kitchen ever since."

Stale French bread
Unsalted butter or solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature, or cooking spray for greasing
2 eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups milk (not fat free), at room temperature
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
FOR SERVING:
Chocolate Sauce, Warm Liquor Sauce made with Southern Comfort or bourbon (click here for the dessert sauce recipes)

Slice enough bread into 1/2-inch-thick slices to fill an 8-inch square pan in 2 layers, then transfer the bread to a large bowl. Using a pastry brush, lightly grease the pan with butter or shortening, or coat with spray. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, milk, cream, melted butter, vanilla and almond extracts, currants or raisins, and nutmeg; whisk to blend well. Pour the mixture over the bread slices and set aside, turning the bread as necessary, until the bread is soft and saturated with the mixture, about 30 minutes.

Arrange the soaked bread slices in 2 layers in the prepared pan. Pour any unabsorbed egg mixture over the top of the bread, cover, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or for up to overnight.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake until the pudding is set and the top is lightly browned, about 45 minutes. During baking, occasionally push the bread down into the sauce with a spatula.

Meanwhile, prepare the selected sauce and keep warm or reheat just before serving.

TO SERVE:
Spoon the warm pudding into shallow bowls and ladle some of the sauce over the top.

BREAD PUDDING VARIATIONS:

BANANA BREAD PUDDING:
Use banana bread in place of the French bread, slice and lightly toast in an oven to dry. Substitute chopped crystallized ginger for the currants or raisins. Serve with Cr me Anglaise or Whipped Cream.

BREAD LOAF PUDDING:
Substitute a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan for the square pan. Use thinly sliced stale high-quality white bread in place of the French bread. Cut off and discard the crusts and trim the slices so that they will stand upright in the loaf pan. Omit the currants or raisins. Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture, then pack the slices rather tightly in the pan to resemble a loaf of bread. Pour any remaining egg mixture over the bread, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Bake as directed and set aside to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate overnight. To serve, run a thin, flexible knife blade around the inside edges of the pan. Invert a serving plate over the pan, invert the plate and pan together, and carefully lift off the pan. Slice the pudding crosswise. Ladle Cr me Anglaise onto individual plates, then top with slices of the pudding.

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING:
Use chocolate pound cake in place of the French bread; slice and lightly toast in an oven to dry. Omit the currants or raisins. Add 1 cup chopped toasted pecans to the egg mixture, if desired. Serve with warm Caramel Sauce, Chocolate Sauce, or Cr me Anglaise.

CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING:
Use stale Croissants, sliced horizontally, in place of the French bread. Substitute chopped candied orange zest for the currants or raisins. For a chocolate version, add about 1 cup coarsely chopped finest-quality semisweet or mil chocolate to the egg mixture.

DATE-NUT BREAD PUDDING:
Use Gingerbread in place of the French bread, slice and lightly toast in an oven to dry. Serve warm with Old Fashioned Dessert Sauce or Lemon Sauce.

PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING:
Use pumpkin bread in place of the French bread; slice and lightly toast in an oven to dry. Sweeten the custard with pure maple syrup or light brown sugar instead of the sugar. Use chopped dried dates in place of the currants or raisins. When the pudding comes out of the oven, pour warm Caramel Sauce over the top and set aside to cool slightly before serving.

Makes 6 servings
Source: James McNair's Favorites by James K. McNair