Black Folks Southern Bread Pudding
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Are you looking for an old-fashioned Southern bread pudding or a soul food African American beading pudding recipe?
Then look no further than this Black folks’ Southern bread pudding – your go-to recipe!
African American beading pudding recipe
This is the ideal dessert for you if you love warm bread and Southern comfort foods. And this Black folks’ Southern bread pudding is a delicious pudding with minimal ingredients yet perfectly spiced. Akin to what you’d expect from a soul food recipe.
Black folks’ Southern bread pudding is a crowd favorite. A rich, decadent dessert that folks will line up for. Nothing brings back childhood memories quite like an old-fashioned, classic Southern dessert recipe.
Bread pudding is also an all-time soul food favorite food. It’s enjoyed on holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And on ordinary soul food Sundays, whether it’s for breakfast, brunch, or dessert with dinner.
The warm, ooey-gooey goodness of bread pudding is one of the most comforting desserts. This Southern soul food pudding is timeless and surpasses all seasons.
What nationality is bread pudding?
While Black folks’ Southern bread pudding is famous in New Orleans, people still ask, “What country invented bread pudding?’
History tells the story that Europeans would use up excess bread scraps and crumbs by mixing them with milk and sweetener. Then, this unsophisticated mixture was boiled and served.
Black people later spiced up this sweet treat, and we have what we know today as Southern soul food bread pudding!
What is Southern bread pudding?
Bread pudding is a Southern dessert best made with stale bread, granulated sugar, eggs, raisins, butter, half-and-half, and a little salt.
Why do you call it bread pudding?
The term “bread pudding” is used to describe a dish that has a bread base with a custard filling.
The bread cubes are typically soaked in half and half, butter, and egg mixture before being baked.
However, this soul food recipe is unique. It has additional spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg for a most flavorful treat!
Soul food Southern bread pudding recipe
If you were born and raised in the South, you know that old-fashioned bread pudding is a staple dessert in the region. It’s a dessert that’s both sweet and rich, and it’s made with ingredients you probably already have at home.
Once you learn how to make this easy Southern bread pudding recipe, you’ll have a recipe for the ultimate comfort food. You can serve this dessert for family, guests, or just yourself as a party of one.
Kitchen equipment for Black folks Southern bread pudding
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven (optional)
- 10-inch baking dish (for the bread pudding)
- 12×10 inch baking pan (for the boiling water)
- Kitchen shears (to cube the bread)
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients for Black folks Southern bread pudding
- 4 ½ cups of honey wheat sandwich bread, cubed
- 3 tablespoons of raisins, divided
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, divided
- ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, divided
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
- 2 cups of half-and-half
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 4 cups of boiling water
Instructions for Black folks Southern bread pudding
- Grease a 10-inch baking dish.
- Then spread half of the cubed bread in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Top the bread with half of the raisins, then half of the ground cinnamon, half of the ground nutmeg, and finally the remaining bread cubes.
- Sprinkle the rest of the raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg onto the bread and drizzle with the melted butter.
- Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Pour the mixture over the bread pieces.
- Press down on the bread with a fork, so it’s saturated in the egg mixture.
- Pour the boiling water into a larger 12×10″ baking pan.
- Place the baking dish with the bread mixture into the larger pan with boiling water.
- Bake the pan-in-pan bread pudding at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes uncovered in a conventional oven. Then bake for an additional 25 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil. If using the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven, bake at 400 degrees F for 22 minutes uncovered. Then bake for an additional 15 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake until the center of the pudding is firm and set.
- Serve Black folks Southern bread pudding right away and enjoy!
How do you make Southern bread pudding without raisins?
It’s easy – simply omit them from this recipe!
Should bread pudding be served warm?
Because bread pudding can be enjoyed either warm or cold.
From a warm spring afternoon to a cold winter day, it pairs well with a warm cup of hot chocolate to Southern-style iced tea.
What should you top the bread pudding with?
Try bread pudding today with a bread pudding caramel sauce and experience the ultimate indulgence in every bite!
Or top it with another traditional Southern bread pudding sauce like bourbon sauce, whisky sauce, vanilla sauce, or another hard sauce that’s usually vanilla in flavor.
You could also top this decadent Southern dessert with vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, caramel, or chocolate sauce.
What do you serve with Black folks’ Southern bread pudding?
Other than a scoop of ice cream or bread pudding sauce?
Many classic soul food recipes pair well with Southern bread pudding. Like Southern soul food fried chicken, brown sugar glazed ham, or soul food smothered chicken.
Black folks also love bread pudding as a dessert after enjoying New Orleans Cajun food favorites like gumbo, old sober yock recipe, and soul food shrimp and grits.
Black folks Southern bread pudding FAQs
Where did the Louisiana bread pudding recipe come from?
Louisiana bread pudding is a dessert made with stale French bread soaked in egg, milk, or heavy cream, and spices.
The dessert was made famous in 1905 by Jean Galatoire, who served it in his café, Galatoire’s, located on New Orlean’s iconic Bourbon Street.
Why is bread pudding so popular in New Orleans?
Louisiana bread pudding is also known as New Orleans bread pudding. Its fame has to do with its delicious taste, Galatoire’s iconic restaurant on Bourbon Street, and because it’s a Mardi Gras favorite food.
What size pan do you need?
A 10-inch round or square baking dish will work for this recipe.
You’ll also need a larger (i.e., 12×10 inch) baking pan for the boiling water as part of the pan-in-pan baking instructions for this recipe.
Can bread pudding be made ahead?
The best part is that this Black folks’ Southern bread pudding recipe can be preassembled (liquids kept separate from the dry ingredients, though). Then, up to three days before an event, it can be combined and baked right before serving!
However, if you ask most Southerners, they’ll tell you that bread pudding is best served right away!
What kind of bread can you use for bread pudding?
Bread pudding is made with various bread, but the most common types include white bread, wheat bread, raisin bread, brioche, or challah bread.
Also, brown bread can be used because it has a nutty flavor. Although brown bread is less commonly used.
What type of bread should you use?
For this recipe, I recommend using stale honey wheat bread.
The bread is broken into large chunks and soaked in a mixture of milk, eggs, and spices.
What does day old bread mean?
Day old bread is basically stale bread. Bread that is less fresh and has dried out.
Why is stale bread better for bread pudding?
People often ask, “Should I really use old bread?”
Stale bread is best for a Southern bread pudding recipe because it has less moisture than fresh bread. This makes it easier to soak up more liquid without making the pudding soft or mushy.
How do you keep bread pudding from getting soggy?
The bread for your bread pudding should be stiff enough to hold its shape. If the bread is too fresh, it will fall apart and make the bread pudding too mushy or soggy.
That’s why stale or day-old bread is recommended for a bread pudding recipe.
Prefer to use stiffer stale bread?
You can also use stale French bread to give the pudding a good texture and flavor.
Can you make bread pudding without stale bread?
Bread pudding is a dessert that is traditionally prepared using stale bread. This is not to say that you can’t make bread pudding without stale bread.
Because you can substitute with fresh bread, here are a few options on how to do this best:
- The first option is to buy fresh bread and let it sit uncovered on your counter overnight .
- The second option is to buy a fresh bread loaf and toast it in the pan or in the oven at 300 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.
How thick do you slice the bread?
For this Southern bread pudding recipe, you can cube the bread to approx 1″ size by using kitchen shears to first cut 1″ wide bread strips into 1×1″ bread cubes.
Can you leave bread pudding out overnight?
Can bread pudding be left unrefrigerated?
Because it’s a moist recipe made with eggs, bread pudding should be refrigerated overnight. However, it can be left out for several hours at room temperature without going bad.
Can you store bread pudding in the refrigerator?
If you have leftover bread pudding, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Place the bread pudding in a sealed container or a Ziplock plastic bag.
How do you reheat leftovers?
There are two ways to reheat an old-fashioned Southern bread pudding recipe. Either in the microwave or the oven.
Reheating bread pudding in the microwave is the easiest and quickest method. You can do this in a few minute intervals until the bread pudding is warm.
How well will Southern bread pudding freeze after baking?
Freeze it if you have leftover bread pudding and want to store it for more than a few days. Place the bread pudding in an airtight container and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What substitutions are there for this recipe?
Is it possible to substitute raisins with cranberries in bread pudding if you don’t like raisins?
Yes, you can. I’ve even seen blueberry bread pudding on the Food Network. A great idea if raisins are not your jam. There’s even a fruit cocktail bread pudding recipe!
You can also try switching half and half with heavy whipping cream or evaporated milk if that’s what you have on hand.
More Southern pudding desserts to try:
Southern banana pudding the Black way
Where did banana pudding come from?
What did you think about this Black folks Southern bread pudding recipe?
Love this recipe for Southern bread pudding?
It’s very easy to make and can be served as a breakfast or dessert, warm or cold.
Have you had bread pudding?
Would you make it?
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Equipment
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven (optional)
- 10-inch baking dish (for the bread pudding)
- 12×10 inch baking pan (for the boiling water)
- kitchen shears To cube the bread – first cut 1" wide bread strips into 1×1" bread cubes
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups bread cubed honey wheat sandwich bread
- 3 tablespoons raisins divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon divided
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg divided
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups water boiling
Instructions
- Grease a 10-inch baking dish.
- Then spread half of the cubed bread in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Top the bread with half of the raisins, then half of the ground cinnamon, half of the ground nutmeg, and finally the remaining bread cubes.
- Sprinkle the rest of the raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg onto the bread and drizzle with the melted butter.
- Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Pour the mixture over the bread pieces.
- Press down on the bread with a fork, so it’s saturated in the egg mixture.
- Pour the boiling water into a larger 12×10″ baking pan.
- Place the baking dish with the bread mixture into the larger pan with boiling water.
- Bake the pan-in-pan bread pudding at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes uncovered in a conventional oven. Then bake for an additional 25 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil. If using the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven, bake at 400 degrees F for 22 minutes uncovered. Then bake for an additional 15 minutes, covered loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake until the center of the pudding is firm and set.
- Serve Black folks Southern bread pudding right away and enjoy!
Wow! I love bread, but haven’t tried a bread pudding before. Btw, what half-and-half means?
Great question! What’s in half-and-half? It’s simple – half whole milk & half heavy whipping cream.