Bread pudding has always been a great way to use up stale bread and give it a wonderful luscious second life. In French, bread pudding is called “pain perdu” which literally means lost bread – and was one of the great recipes cooks came up with to use leftovers. So by all means, this recipe could be made with sourdough stale bread, or any kind of bread that can be sunk in a flavorful liquid, but I cheated a little. I used panettone, a wonderfully fragrant Italian bread that resembles coffee cake. You can find panettone made with dried fruit, and all kind of elaborate concoctions. The bread itself is slightly sweet and dry and soaks up custard in the most beautiful way. I’m not sure the picture really does the dessert justice: when you take it out of the oven, the bread puffs up, the custard is almost bubbly and the chocolate seeps through. I took the picture a little late (yes.. I had to taste one of the batches first) so the bread isn’t at its puffed potential, but I’m sure you get the idea!
Recipe (serves 4)
2 eggs
1 cup of whole milk
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of white sugar
1 teaspoon of Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 small panettone loaf with candied lemon and raisins
2 tablespoons of bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
Butter, to butter the ramekins
4 oven-proof individual-sized ramekins
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sugar, Grand Marnier, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Roughly slice the pannetone into one inch cubes. Butter the ramekins and place half of the panettone cubes at the bottom of each. Disperse 1/2 tablespoon of chocolate in each ramekin and cover with the remaining panettone. Pour the egg mixture over the panettone, and lightly push down with a fork until the panettone is covered with egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the egg mixture is just set. Serve warm with chocolate shavings. Enjoy!
Enjoy the read!
My Sweet & Saucy
December 12, 2008 at 6:35 pm (16 years ago)PERFECTION!!!
My Sweet & Saucy
December 12, 2008 at 6:35 pm (16 years ago)PERFECTION!!!
My Sweet & Saucy
December 12, 2008 at 6:35 pm (16 years ago)PERFECTION!!!
Sophie
December 12, 2008 at 11:28 pm (16 years ago)Sounds divine, I love panettone!
Farhan
December 13, 2008 at 4:42 am (16 years ago)Bread pudding is so homely and comforting, I love ur version!
Cakebrain
December 13, 2008 at 10:20 am (16 years ago)Beautiful! What wondeful pics! looks delicious!
Gabe's Girl
December 13, 2008 at 10:41 pm (16 years ago)What a great recipe! Very nice presentation. I like individual treats like this. It makes your guest feel something special, I think.
alicesg
December 14, 2008 at 1:26 am (16 years ago)Looked so good and yummy.
Darius T. Williams
December 14, 2008 at 5:09 pm (16 years ago)Oh my – this looks great!
maggie
December 14, 2008 at 6:19 pm (16 years ago)Yum. So tempting. We have a bottle of Grand Marnier from my fiance’s grandparent’s basement just waiting to be used…
gail
December 14, 2008 at 11:45 pm (16 years ago)This is brilliantly fabulous!!
Maria
December 15, 2008 at 3:21 pm (16 years ago)What a great dessert for the holidays!
La Table De Nana
December 15, 2008 at 7:42 pm (16 years ago)So cute!
I have small Le Creuset pots and actually saw a small set Of Cocottes at Coscto today.
I have just discovered your beautiful blog.
The marvels of cyberspace.
Thank you for seeing me..I see you now..Off to peruse more.
Jude
December 20, 2008 at 3:53 am (16 years ago)Awesome results and photos. Can’t wait to make panettone myself !
Kevin
January 1, 2009 at 10:00 am (16 years ago)That bread pudding looks great!
Happy new year!
Rayna Lynn
July 23, 2012 at 7:21 pm (12 years ago)I’ve have only had 1 bread pudding recipe that i’ve really liked, but this recipe looks and sounds delicious!