Author Notes
This started as a Bon Appetit recipe years ago, but we've tinkered with it over the years to come up with this luscious, yet easy indulgence. I think the only thing we haven't changed over time is the use of Challah, because it is absolutely perfect in this dish. My favorite thing about this treat is that it is made in its entirety the night before serving, so in the morning, you just have to pop it into the oven, and set your timer. I recommend you keep a spatula handy while the pudding is baking in order to battle off the hordes that will inevitably descend on the kitchen at the first whiff of this lovely thing baking. —Oui, Chef
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Ingredients
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18 ounces
Challah bread, torn into bite-sized pieces
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10
large, organic eggs
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3 cups
whole milk
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3/4 cup
heavy cream
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1/2 cup
granulated sugar
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1/4 cup
light brown sugar
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1 tablespoon
vanilla extract
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1/2 teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
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1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
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1/8 teaspoon
ground cardamom
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1 pinch
kosher salt
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1/2 cup
golden raisins
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1/2 cup
dried cranberries or cherries
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1 cup
chopped pecans
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maple syrup and butter to serve
Directions
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Butter 10x13x2-inch baking dish. Tear up the bread and place it in the dish. Whisk the eggs with the milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, and spices, in medium bowl to blend; pour over bread. Sprinkle the raisins and dried fruit over the mix, and working with your hands, fold them in to incorporate them evenly through the bread. Press down on bread to make sure it gets moistened completely. Cover with foil and chill overnight.
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Place foil-covered dish in cold oven. Set oven at 350°F and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until pudding is puffed and golden, about 30-35 minutes longer. Spoon pudding onto plates, sprinkle with chopped, toasted nuts, and serve with a slathering of butter and warm maple syrup.
I am a father of five, who recently completed a two year professional hiatus during which I indulged my long held passion for cooking by moving to France to study the culinary arts and immerse myself in all things French. I earned “Le Grande Diplome” from Le Cordon Bleu, studied also at The Ritz Escoffier and Lenotre cooking schools, and completed the course offerings of the Bordeaux L’Ecole du Vin.
About six months ago started "Oui, Chef", which is a food blog that exists as an extension of my efforts to teach my children a few things about cooking, and how our food choices over time effect not only our own health, but that of our local food communities and our planet at large. By sharing some of our cooking experiences through the blog, I hope to inspire other families to start spending more time together in the kitchen, cooking healthy meals as a family, passing on established familial food traditions, and perhaps starting some new ones.
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