bread pudding...

Best bread pudding...

Nothing warms up a chilly morning quite like a freshly baked Bread Pudding, also known as French Toast Casserole. This dish is the definition of comfort food—soft, custardy bread soaked in a rich, sweet vanilla-spiced mixture, then baked until golden brown with crispy edges and a soft, pudding-like center. It’s a holiday breakfast tradition in our home, always served with a side of crispy bacon, and it never fails to bring everyone to the table.

The beauty of this dish is its versatility. Whether you prefer the burst of juicy blueberries or the indulgent sweetness of chocolate chips, this recipe is completely customizable to suit your taste. But no matter how you make it, one thing is certain: this is the kind of breakfast that turns an ordinary morning into something truly special.

Ingredients That Make This Dish Special:

Bread: Slightly stale or day-old bread works best, as it soaks up the custard without getting too mushy. Brioche, challah, or French bread are all fantastic choices.
Custard Base: A creamy mixture of eggs, milk (or heavy cream for extra richness), vanilla extract, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Sweetener: Brown sugar or maple syrup adds a deep, caramelized sweetness.
Mix-Ins: Blueberries provide a fruity freshness, while chocolate chips melt into pockets of gooey decadence. Feeling adventurous? Try both!
Topping: A buttery streusel topping or a dusting of powdered sugar takes this dish to the next level.

INGREDIENTS

8-10 cups white bread, * little stale works best, about 10-15 slices

▢

2 cup almond milk , *see notes

▢

5 eggs

▢

1 tbsp vanilla exact

▢

1½ cup brown sugar, *

▢

1 tsp cinnamon

▢

1/4 tsp salt

▢

1½ cup chocolate chips

DIRECTION

Preheat oven to 350º. Chop up bread into squares. In a large bowl, mix eggs, vanilla, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt together well.
Add the bread to the egg/milk mixture. Be sure the bread is nice and soaked in the mix be gentle so the bread squares stay in tact. Grease the casserole dish and pour the bread, egg mix into the casserole. Add in the chocolate chips, gently push them into the crevices of the casserole.
Bake for about 45-50 minutes. The top will be browned and crispy, stick a toothpick in the middle and be sure it comes out clean to be sure. Let the bread pudding cool before slicing into it.