Recipe

Irish Bread Pudding

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Photo by Kevin

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Holiday Breakfast
A&M's Testing Notes: Kevin’s Irish Bread Pudding has a base of hearty, whole wheat bread studded with raisins and soaked in a mixture of apple cider, punchy spices and of course, Irish whiskey. There’s only ¼...
Kevin’s Irish Bread Pudding has a base of hearty, whole wheat bread studded with raisins and soaked in a mixture of apple cider, punchy spices and of course, Irish whiskey. There’s only ¼ cup of booze but it goes a long way—especially since there’s more in the whipped cream—so this pudding could also be a great end to a holiday meal. It’s great for entertaining because it can sit overnight and be baked when guests want something sweet! - Natalie

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Chef
Kevin's Notes: In Ireland bread pudding is a common Christmas treat for Breakfast - and why not? Stale bread is soaked in a custard of eggs and cream seasoned with once-precious spices like cinnamon, nutmeg...
In Ireland bread pudding is a common Christmas treat for Breakfast - and why not? Stale bread is soaked in a custard of eggs and cream seasoned with once-precious spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and even cane sugar and then baked. Easy to make it can be prepped in advance then slid into the oven on Christmas morn.

I hearken back to those days by using whole wheat bread, turbinado sugar, and Irish whiskey. And then add apples and raisins and cardamom and mace (instead of the more common cinnamon and nutmeg). If your prefer, you can substitute rum, brandy, or sherry for the Irish whiskey.

Serve with Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs, and (for the adults) Irish coffee. - Kevin

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Serves 6

Pudding:

6 - 8 cups slices thick whole wheat bread, somewhat chewy Ask a question about this ingredient

4 tablespoons unsalted butter Ask a question about this ingredient

1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced (about the same size as raisens) Ask a question about this ingredient

4 eggs Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup turbinado sugar or packed light brown sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup half and half Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup apple cider Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup milk Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup Irish Whiskey Ask a question about this ingredient

2 teaspoons vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 orange, zested Ask a question about this ingredient

1 teaspoon ground cardamom Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon ground mace Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup raisins Ask a question about this ingredient

Topping:

1 cup whipping cream Ask a question about this ingredient

1 tablespoon superfine sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

2 tablespoons Irish whiskey Ask a question about this ingredient

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
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Toast bread on both sides until well browned and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Bite one, it should be quite crisp, if not, cook cubes another 5 minutes. You should have about 6 cups.
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Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped apple and cook, stirring frequently, for five to seven minutes.
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Lightly whip eggs and sugar together in a large bowl. Mix in half & half, cider, milk, whiskey, vanilla, orange zest, and spices. Add bread, apples, and raisins stir, and let sit for 1 hour. Scoop into an 8 x 12 casserole. At this point it can be covered and refrigerated overnight.
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Heat oven to 350 degrees.
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Cover casserole with foil and position in a larger pan in the middle of the oven. Add enough boiling water to the larger pan to come half way up the sides of the casserole. Cook for 40 minutes and remove cover. (Check to make sure the water doesn't boil away. If needed add more boiling water.) Cook about 30 minutes longer until top is browned.
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While pudding is cooking, chill a medium bowl and beaters in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then beat whipping cream to soft peaks. Beat in sugar. Beat in liquor. Serve as topping with pudding.
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6 Comments on Irish Bread Pudding

Sagegreen added about 1 year ago

Great recipe. Thanks!

JoanG added about 1 year ago

I bet this would also be good with Irish brown bread. I love this use of Irish Whiskey! Will have to try it.

hardlikearmour added about 1 year ago

This sounds delicious, and I really like the spice profile. I love eating bread pudding for breakfast!

hardlikearmour added about 1 year ago

I just steeped your spice combo in some half-and-half, and used it in my coffee. Yum.

Lizthechef added about 1 year ago

Yes, great recipe, my kind of holiday treat!

AntoniaJames added about 1 year ago

Great recipe! Any breakfast recipe that includes whipped cream and Irish whiskey is a keeper, to be sure. And we always have chewy whole-grain sandwich bread on hand, so this one is right up my alley. I could easily see subbing pears for the apples, as I like the combination of pears with the cardamom, mace and ginger. Thank you for posting this recipe!! And thanks for reminding me to put my beaters in the freezer. ;o)