Barefoot Contessas Breakfast Bread Pudding Recipes

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, honey, vanilla, orange zest, and salt.
• Set aside.
• Slice the brioche loaf into 6 (1-inch) thick pieces.
• Lay half brioche slices flat in a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish.
• Spread the raisins on top of the brioche slices, and place the remaining slices on top.
• Make sure that the raisins are between the layers of brioche or they will burn while baking.
• Pour the egg mixture over the bread and allow to soak for 15 minutes, pressing down gently.
• Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set.
• Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.
• **Active prep time does not include allowing the egg and bread mixture to soak for 15 minutes before baking.

VANILLA BRIOCHE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Space two racks evenly in the oven.
• Cut five 3/4-inch-thick slices of brioche and place them in one layer on a sheet pan. Trim some of the crusts from the remaining brioche and cut in 1-inch dice. Spread out on a second sheet pan. Put both pans in the oven for 5 minutes, to lightly toast the bread.
• Meanwhile, for the custard, whisk together the whole eggs, yolks, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, and vanilla seeds in a large bowl, and set aside. Line a 10-by-12-by-2-inch rectangular baking dish with the whole slices of brioche, cutting them to fit in one layer. Distribute the diced brioche on top. Pour on the custard and press lightly so all the bread is soaked with custard. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Place the dish in a roasting pan large enough to allow the baking dish to sit flat. Pour about 1 inch of the hottest tap water into the roasting pan, being sure not to get any water into the custard. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting the foil so it doesn't touch the pudding. Cut a few holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the custard is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm, drizzled with melted ice cream.

VANILLA BRIOCHE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Space two racks evenly in the oven.
• Cut five 3/4-inch-thick slices of brioche and place them in one layer on a sheet pan. Trim some of the crusts from the remaining brioche and cut in 1-inch dice. Spread out on a second sheet pan. Put both pans in the oven for 5 minutes to lightly toast the bread.
• Meanwhile, for the custard, whisk together the whole eggs, yolks, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla and vanilla seeds in a large bowl and set aside. Line a 3-quart baking dish with the whole slices of brioche, cutting them to fit in one layer. Distribute the diced brioche on top. Pour on the custard and press lightly so all the bread is soaked with custard. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Place the dish in a roasting pan large enough to allow the baking dish to sit flat. Pour about 1 inch of the hottest tap water into the roasting pan, being sure not to get any water into the custard. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting the foil so it doesn't touch the pudding. Cut a few holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the custard is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm with the melted ice cream.

BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, honey, vanilla, orange zest, and salt. Set aside.
• Slice the brioche loaf into 6 (1-inch) thick pieces. Lay half brioche slices flat in a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish. Spread the raisins on top of the brioche slices, and place the remaining slices on top. Make sure that the raisins are between the layers of brioche or they will burn while baking. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and allow to soak for 15 minutes, pressing down gently.
• Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.

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.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA BROWNIE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Melt butter and set aside to cool.
• Beat eggs and sugar together on medium speed until very light yellow and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Sift cocoa powder and flour together, and add to sugar and egg mixture on low speed just until mixed.
• Slowly pour in melted butter and mix again just until combined.
• Grease a 9x12x2 baking dish (I used an 8x11), and spread mixture into the pan.
• Place dish into a larger baking pan.
• Add enough very hot tap water to larger pan to come halfway up the side of the smaller pan.
• Bake for exactly 1 hour.
• A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean.
• The center will appear very underbaked, IT SHOULD. The texture of this is between a brownie and pudding.
• Cool, serve slightly warm or room temperature, with vanilla ice cream if desired.