Classic New Orleans Bread Pudding With A Bourbon Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
• MAKE THE PUDDING: In a small bowl, combine the pecans, sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the pecan mixture and blend well. Stir in the milk and raisins.
• Place the bread cubes in the prepared pan. Pour the egg mixture over them and toss gently until the bread is soaked. Let the pudding sit until the bread has absorbed nearly all the liquid, about 35 minutes. Stir the mixture once or twice to moisten the bread evenly.
• Meanwhile, MAKE THE TOPPING: In a small bowl, combine the pecans, sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
• Bake the pudding for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the pecan topping over the pudding and continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the topping is browned.
• Meanwhile, MAKE THE BOURBON SAUCE: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and cornstarch, and cook, stirring, until dissolved. Whisk in the cream and vanilla, and continue cooking, stirring, until sauce thickens slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the bourbon and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds. Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool slightly.
• To serve, spoon the pudding out on plates, then ladle a bit of the bourbon sauce over each serving.
• NOTE: To toast the pecans, place them on an ungreased cookie sheet in a preheated 375 degree oven for 10 minutes, or until golden.

Steps:

• Cut the bread into one-inch cubes and; if the bread is fresh, let it dry at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Place the cubes in a large mixing bowl. Cover with milk and let stand about 15 minutes until milk is absorbed.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until thick and creamy. Add pecans and raisins, pour over the soaked bread cubes, and stir until mixed.
• Grease a 9 x 11 x 2-inch baking dish ( or 2 6-cup dishes. Spoon the pudding mixture into the baking dish(es) and dot the surface of the pudding evenly with butter.
• The pudding must bake in a water-bath, so place a larger shallow pan in the center of the preheated oven. Set the dishes dishes in it and pour boiling water into the outer pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake for 55-65 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center of the pudding comes out clean. Let stand at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before serving.
• To make the Bourbon Sauce: Combine the sugar with the water in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil without stirring. Insert a candy thermometer and let simmer until the mixture reaches 238 depgrees, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the thermometer.
• Lower the heat and add the pieces of butter all at once. Stir rapidly with a wire whisk until the butter has been absorbed and the mixture is creamy. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Blend the bourbon and cornstarch together until well combined and stir into the sauce. Beat with a whisk until smooth. Return the sauce to the heat and whisk for a minute or two, just until it reaches a hard boil and bubbles up in the pan. If the sauce remains hot for too long a time or is overcooked, it will eventually become grainy from the evaporation of the liquid. To remedy this, simply add a tablespoon or two of water and reheat, whisking constantly to a hard boil. Remove from the heat. Serve over the warm bread pudding.
• Note: The one large pudding will make 10-12 servings. If your group is small, make the pudding in the two 6-cup dishes. Serve the one and store the other in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 4 months. To serve, bring to room temperature,l then heat at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes until it is warm through. The sauce may be made in advance and stored in the refrigertor for up to a month. To serve, bring it to a boil in a small heavy saucean over medium heat, whisking constantly. If the sauce sugars, remedy it as above.

Steps:

• Butter 8-inch square baking dish. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Place bread and pecans in prepared dish. Pour milk mixture over and let stand 5 minutes. Push down bread into custard. Refrigerate 2 hours, pushing bread into custard occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place bread pudding in large metal baking pan. Add enough boiling water to baking pan to come 1 inch up sides of dish with bread pudding. Bake until pudding is puffed and golden brown on top, approximately 50 minutes. Remove dish with bread pudding from water and cool slightly. Cut into squares. Serve bread pudding warm with sauce.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine raisins and brandy. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; cover and set aside. Brush a shallow 2-1/2-qt. baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with sugar and set aside., In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and nutmeg. Stir in remaining butter and reserved raisin mixture. Gently stir in bread; let stand for 15 minutes or until bread is softened. , Transfer to prepared dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean., For sauce, in a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch and salt; gradually add water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Serve with bread pudding.