Brioche Bread Pudding with Strawberries
Lynley Jones
Served with Grand Marnier Cream Sauce, an elegant and delicious way to welcome strawberry season.
Read Berry Special Plants to learn more about the inspiration for this recipe.
Serves 4-6
Brioche Bread Pudding made in the Adventure Kitchen with local spring strawberries from our CSA, and Grand Marnier Cream Sauce.
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon butter
6 cups cinnamon brioche or challah bread that has been cut into 1/2-inch cubes (if cinnamon bread is not available, use plain and add cinnamon, see below)
5 eggs
2 cups milk (preferably whole)
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
If not using cinnamon bread: 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For serving:
About 1 cup chopped strawberries
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with the rack in the middle position. Butter an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish, and add the cubed bread to it.
2. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Add milk, sugar, vanilla extract and salt to the eggs, along with the cinnamon if using, and whisk to combine.
3. Pour mixture over the bread cubes. Press down on the bread to ensure it's all evenly moistened. Allow the bread to soak for up to an hour, or bake right away.
4. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Then, cover loosely with foil and bake for another 35-45 minutes, until the pudding is significantly puffed up and does not appear wet in the middle. Check doneness with a toothpick or knife inserted vertically into the center. If it is wet, bake for another 5 minutes (slightly moist is fine). The puff will reduce as it cools.
5. When ready to serve, put a large spoonful of strawberries on each portion, and drizzle with Grand Marnier sauce.
Notes:
To make ahead: You can make the egg/milk mixture up to 3 days ahead, and keep covered tightly in the refrigerator. You can cube the bread ahead as well, then just assemble and bake just before serving.
Cassia is the type of cinnamon we all grew up with here in the US. It’s got that classic “cinnamon” flavor. We chose this cinnamon because it’s very fragrant and flavorful, and it comes from a source in Vietnam that pays its workers a fair trade wage.
1/2-cup sized jar.
We get our Ceylon cinnamon straight from Sri Lanka, where it originates. Known as the real "original" cinnamon, it has a mild, subtle flavor and is the cinnamon traditionally used in Indian and Mexican cuisines, and many others.
1/2 cup sized jar.