Praline Bread Pudding Recipes

PRALINE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tins with the butter.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla together. Whisk in the cream and milk. Fold in the bread and pralines. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Spoon the filling into each muffin tin. Place the muffin tin on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the center is firm. Serve the pudding with the Anglaise sauce.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, and water. Place over a medium-high heat and stir constantly until the pralines reach the softball stage, 238 to 240 degrees F. Add the pecans to the candy, and pull the pan off the stove. Continue to stir the candy vigorously with a wooden spoon until the candy cools, and the pecans remain suspended in the candy, about 2 minutes. Spoon the pralines out onto a parchment or aluminum foil lined sheet pan and cool completely before serving.
• Heat the heavy cream, milk, and vanilla bean in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Place the egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof mixing bowl and beat until pale yellow in color and all of the sugar has dissolved. Temper about a half cup of the cream mixture into the egg mixture and whisk vigorously to incorporate well. Add the egg mixture to the saucepan with the cream mixture and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, or wooden spoon. Be sure to stir in the corners of the pot and lower the heat slightly. Stir the mixture for 4 to 5 minutes or until the custard has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Remove from the stove and strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Place the bowl in another bowl half-filled with ice and water to cool the custard. To chill the custard faster, stir it occasionally with a spoon.

CHOCOLATE-PRALINE BREAD PUDDING WITH CINNAMON CREAM

Steps:

• For the praline: Lightly oil a baking sheet or line it with a silicone baking mat. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Continue cooking without stirring until the sugar syrup turns to dark caramel, 5 to 7 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally and gently so the caramel darkens evenly. Monitor the caramel closely during the final moments as it can quickly go from perfect to burnt. Work cautiously, as hot caramel can cause a nasty burn.
• Stir in the pecans, then immediately pour the hot praline onto the prepared baking sheet in a thin, even layer. Let cool until hard, then break into small pieces.
• For the pudding: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch square pan.
• In a small saucepan, heat the cream to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Put half of the chopped chocolate in a large bowl and pour the hot cream over it. Whisk until smooth.
• In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and egg yolks, granulated sugar, and salt until well blended. Add to the melted chocolate mixture and whisk well.
• Add the bread cubes and allow them to soak for about 30 minutes, pushing them down into the liquid occasionally. Fold in the remaining chopped chocolate. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the praline over the surface. Place the pan in a larger roasting pan and add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the smaller pan. Bake until the pudding is firm to the touch, about 45 minutes. Remove the smaller pan from the water bath and let the pudding cool for at least 30 minutes.
• For the cream: In a bowl, with a whisk or electric beaters, whip together the cream, confectioners' sugar, and cinnamon to soft peaks.
• To serve, cut the pudding into 12 pieces. Serve warm, accompanied by a dollop of cinnamon cream.

BREAD PUDDING WITH PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Coat a 13x9-inch baking dish with 1/4 cup melted butter.
• Pour half and half and milk over bread in a large mixing bowl; let soak for 10 minutes before gently stirring. Stir eggs into the bread mixture until incorporated. Add sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and raisins respectively, stirring each addition into the mixture before adding the next. Spoon bread mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until bread mixture is firm and pudding-like, about 50 minutes.
• Stir 1/2 pound unsalted butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar together in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, stir pecans into the cream mixture, and simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes; pour over bread pudding to serve.

PRALINE FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. Generously butter a rectangular baking dish (13 x 9 x 2 1/2 inches); use the prettiest one you have. Set out a large shallow pan for the water bath. Cut the bread across into 3/4-inch-thick slices. If you are not using a braided bread, cut slices into four triangles each. Arrange bread slices in rows, leaning and overlapping them, if necessary.
• 2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high until light golden and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Beat in the cream, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg. Pour over the bread in the dish, lifting the bread up slightly to pour between the slices and letting the custard soak in (this is important; see The Junior's Way).
• 3. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, combine all praline topping ingredients, except syrup. Using your hands, spread the mixture over the top of the soaked challah, pushing some down between the slices. Cover the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or preferably overnight.
• 4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the plastic wrap and drizzle the maple syrup over the top. Place the dish in the center of a larger pan. Pour hot water into the pan until it comes 1 inch up the side of the baking dish. Bake until the pudding is puffy, souffléd, and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes (don't let it overbake or get too brown). Touch it: The top should be spongy, not dry or crusty. The bread pudding is best served piping hot, right out of the oven.