Alices Curious French Toast Bread Pudding Recipes

ALICE'S CURIOUS FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, orange and lemon juices, and cinnamon. Whisk the mixture until it is smooth and combined, but do not overbeat it. Place each slice of bread into the mixture and let it absorb the liquid thoroughly. Set the soaked bread aside on a plate.
• 3. Place a griddle or a large frying pan over medium heat and coat it with butter. When the griddle is hot, cook each slice of bread until it is nicely golden on both sides, keeping the heat at a level that allows the bread to cook through evenly without burning the egg mixture. As they are cooked, set the slices aside on a plate.
• 4. While the bread is cooking, make the pudding base: Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, and then remove it from the heat. Place the tea leaves in a tea strainer and steep them in the cream for 3 minutes (or simply put the loose tea in the cream, steep for 3 minutes, and then strain carefully). Discard the tea leaves and reserve the apricot Brandy cream.
• 5. In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, beaten egg, and sugar, and whisk to combine. Add a little of the egg mixture to the apricot Brandy cream and continuing to whisk, gradually add the remaining egg mixture until it's fully combined. Stir in the vanilla extract. Set the pudding base aside.
• 6. When all the bread has been cooked on the griddle, cut the slices into 1 × 1-inch squares.
• 7. Pour the pudding base evenly into the eight ramekins (they will be about one-fourth full), and then lay in the bread squares (the bread may extend above the edge of the ramekins). Place the ramekins on a large baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes, or until the bread is golden and crispy and the liquid is bubbling.
• 8. To serve, drizzle maple syrup, crème anglaise, fruit coulis, and/or confectioners' sugar on top-whatever your heart desires! Slices of fresh fruit work wonderfully as a garnish or a side. Be generous, whatever you do!

FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange the bread in two layers in a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish, cutting the bread to fit the dish. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the bread down. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
• Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting it so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make two slashes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• With a small sieve, dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve hot in squares with maple syrup on the side.

FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut brioche slices diagonally and arrange in two layers in an 8x8 baking dish.
• Thoroughly whisk all ingredients and pour over arranged bread and allow to soak for 20 minutes.
• Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan, and add enough very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come up an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make 2 slashes in the foil to allow the steam to escape.
• Bake at 350° for 45 minutes, remove aluminum foil and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set.
• While the pudding is baking, make the cream sauce.
• In a one quart saucepan set over medium heat, combine the cream and sugar. Place the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of the Grand Marnier in a small mixing bowl and whisk to blend and make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the cream mixture and bring to a boil. Once the sauce begins to boil, reduce the heat, add the salt, and stir in the butter and remaining Grand Marnier.

FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Cut rolls into 1-inch cubes and place in a sprayed 9x13-inch baking pan.
• In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth after each one.
• Stir in milk, half and half, 1/2 cup syrup, almond flavoring and nuts if desired.
• Pour the mixture over the bread cubes making sure all are saturated. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• Remove from fridge and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350°F 40-50 minutes.
• Cover with foil last 15 minutes to prevent over browning if necessary.
• Remove from oven and drizzle with remaining syrup and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm.