S'mores Bread Pudding

Fall has me thinking about warm desserts to welcome the colder weather. Usually, when I think desserts, I'm thinking something cold or room temp, whether it's pies, tarts, cake, ice cream, or custard. Nonetheless, there is little better than a warm bread pudding to lift your spirits.

Smoky marshmallow, melted chocolate, and soft bread and graham crackers make this a fun treat. I love it best served with ice cream when it's fresh out of the oven.

S'mores Bread Pudding
Bread (Enough to fill a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish most of the way)
1 cup Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
9 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Graham Crackers, crushed
1/2 cup Mini Marshmallows

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice bread to 1 inch by 1 inch cubes.
2. In a medium pot, boil heavy cream and milk. In the meantime, whisk eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Once the cream comes to a boil, pour the mixture slowly into the eggs, whisking the entire time.
4. Allow the mix to cool slightly. Then, add the bread into the bowl and toss very gently, so that the bread can keep its shape.
5. Then, add graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Reserve about a handful of each to garnish the bread pudding as a topping.
6. Pour the bread pudding mixture into a cast iron pan, casserole dish, or any other oven-safe vessel. Then, garnish with the remaining chocolate chips, crushed graham cracker, and marshmallows.
7. Place the bread pudding in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until set. The bread pudding will puff up some. If the marshmallows begin to get golden, cover the vessel with foil until it's cooked through.
8. Once the bread pudding is set, and there is no watery liquid, remove from the oven. Serve as quickly as possible.

I think early fall/late summer means fire pits. Whether it's camping or other get togethers around a fire pit, where there is fire, there are s'mores. Also, since the Christmas season is coming up, there will be even more marshmallows to roast! This is a great way to utilize the leftover s'more ingredients, and would be a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas spread!

Summer Berry Bread Pudding

I am so sorry for the late post! I am moving away from Providence to Atlanta this weekend, and I have been attempting to prepare by spending time with friends, packing, and of course getting ready for graduation on Saturday! But first, I have to get through finals...

I recently made some delicious bread pudding with summer berries! It's a great, simple treat for summer, and quick and easy to make! I used Portuguese sweet buns from a local bakery. Croissants would also work well with this recipe.

Summer Berry Bread Pudding (Makes 1 9x13" pan)
Portuguese Sweet Buns (enough to overfill a 9x13" pan)
1 cup Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Dried Orange Peel
1/2 tsp Dried Lemon Peel
9 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Slice the bread into large cubes.
3. In a pot, heat milk, cream, ginger, cinnamon, lemon peel, and orange peel to a boil.
4. In the meantime, whisk eggs, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl.
5. Once the milk comes to a boil, remove from heat and gently pour into the bowl with the eggs, whisking the eggs the entire time.
6. Once incorporated, add the bread into the bowl and move the bread around to soak in the mixture.
7. Put the bread into the casserole dish after it has soaked slightly. As you do this, place sliced berries throughout.
8. Pour any remaining batter over the bread, and place into the oven. You do not want berries to exposed at the top because they may burn.
9. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the bread pudding is set.
10. Remove from oven and serve warm.

I like to serve this bread pudding with a scoop of delicious ice cream :) The ice cream will melt slightly, creating a cream that soaks into the bread pudding. It's a refreshing, comforting summer dessert!

Stay tuned for my goodbye Providence post on Sunday! I will do my best to be on time!

Banana Pudding

 

Banana pudding is a classic American dessert, and perfect for any springtime gathering! Many recipes call for pudding packets, but making banana pudding from scratch is not as difficult as you think!

I made this pudding for a cookout with my fellowship, Reformed University Fellowship. It was a really great time getting to see so many of my good friends together. We had some senior testimonies, where seniors came and spoke to the group about the lessons they've learned through their college years, and the impact the fellowship community has made in that time. It was a great time filled with tears, joy, "aw"s and laughs. I have been extremely blessed to know all of those people and it's crazy that my college time is already coming to an end.

Now onto the recipe :) I had many requests for it tonight, so hope everyone enjoys!

Banana Pudding 
2 cups Milk
10 Egg Yolks
1/4 cup Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
2 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Bananas
1/2 cup Heavy Cream

1 Banana 
1 box Nilla Wafers
3 tbsp Sugar
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Chocolate Chips (to garnish)

1. Heat milk and 1/4 cup of sugar in a medium pot on medium heat.
2. Whisk remaining sugar and flour together in a medium bowl and slowly add the egg yolks, while whisking constantly.
3. When the egg mixture is completely combined, set aside.
4. Prepare a small casserole or bowl by wiping the inside with a wet towel or sponge. Then, place a layer of plastic wrap on the inside and stick it to the wet surface. Have a medium-mesh sieve placed on top. 
5. When the milk is scalding, slowly pour it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
6. Pour the egg mixture back into the pot on low heat.
7. Whisk constantly, while touching the bottom of the pan with the whisk, so that no part of the custard burns. Whisk until the custard boils for about a minute, and is thick.
8. Immediately pour the custard through the sieve onto the casserole dish or bowl.
9. Cover the top with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool. You want a thin layer of custard to speed up the cooling process.
10. Mash 2 bananas with a spoon or with your hands.
11. Whip the first heavy cream with an electric mixer to medium to stiff peaks.
12. When the custard is cool, transfer it into a bowl and add the banana.
13. Gently fold in the whipped cream until it is all incorporated.
14. In a serving dish or in small glasses, add a layer of banana pudding, a few pieces of sliced bananas (1 if it's in an individual glass), and a layer of nilla wafers. Repeat until you run out of pudding.
15. Whip the remaining cream with sugar to stiff peaks.
16. Make a decorative layer of whipped cream on the top by using a piping bag (or ziploc bag) fitted with a star tip. If you do not have icing tips, you can cut the tip of the ziploc to a point, with the seam at the center of the point.
17. Top with chocolate chips, and serve cold.

It is a good idea to make the pudding a day in advance, so that all the flavors can mesh, and so the wafers become cakey. If you do make the pudding early, layer everything except for the whipped cream, and then chill. Whip the cream the day of, so that it does not deflate, soften, and so it stays fresh.

Apple Picking

Fall has come and apple picking season is here! I recently went apple picking and it yielded some delicious results! While I was in Hebron, NH, a group of students and I went to a local apple orchard and picked to our heart's content! Lately, I find that many of my friends from all over the country are utilizing the season to go apple picking. For those of you who have more apples than you can eat, try your hand at some delicious fall desserts. Apple pie is always a favorite when apples are in season. Click here to see my recipe for apple pie :) However, this time I wanted to try something different. I used some traditional fall favors like cinnamon, maple, and apples to create some delicious bread pudding and ice cream!

This isn't your traditional bread pudding and ice cream. The bread pudding has a oatmeal gruyere topping that perfectly accompanies the sweetness of the apples. It's made with Portuguese sweet buns from a local bakery. The ice cream is a maple, bacon, and roasted apple ice cream that is a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The saltiness of the cheese and bacon balances the sweet brown sugar and maple syrup in the bread pudding and ice cream to create a delicious fall dessert.

Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding
Stale Diced Sweet Bread (Enough to overfill a 9x13in casserole dish)
5 Medium Apples
1/4 tsp Salt
1 pinch Pepper
2 tbsp Maple Syrup
2 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 cup Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 Vanilla Bean
1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
9 Eggs
1 tsp Cinnamon 

1. Peel, core, and medium dice apples.
2. Heat a saute pan and add butter.
3. Once hot, add apples. Season with salt, pepper, and maple syrup.
4. Stir until apples are tender. Remove from heat.
5. In a separate pot, place split vanilla bean, milk, and heavy cream.
6. In a large bowl, mix sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and cinnamon.
7. When the milk boils, pour slowly into the eggs. Whisk constantly.
8. Place apples and bread into the mixture, allow to soak.
9. Place into the greased 9x13in casserole dish.

Oatmeal Gruyere Topping
1/4 cup Oats
1/8 cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Butter
3 oz Gruyere Cheese

1. Melt butter.
2. Shred Gruyere. Mix into the oats and sugar.
3. Add butter and mix until incorporated.
4. Generously top the bread pudding.
5. Bake at 350F until set. The bread pudding will souffle (expand slightly), and the topping will be golden.

Maple, Bacon, and Roasted Apple Ice Cream
10 oz Heavy Cream
6 oz Milk
2 oz Sugar
2 oz Maple
4 Yolks
1 Egg
1 Apple
2 slices Bacon
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1 pinch Salt
1 tsp Maple
1 tbsp Butter
1 pinch Cinnamon

1. Place the ice cream maker bowl into the freezer. Many ice cream makers have a bowl that needs to be in the freezer overnight to ensure proper freezing. Follow the manufacturer's directions for this step.
2. In a pot, heat milk, cream, and sugar.
3. In a bowl, mix maple, egg, and yolk.
4. Once milk mixture boils, pour slowly into egg mixture while mixing constantly.
5. Pour the mixture back into the pot. Turn the heat to low.
6. Mix constantly while touching the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
7. When the mixture thickens slightly, pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. This will remove any curdled egg pieces.
8. Cut bacon into small pieces.
9. Peel, core and small dice apple.
10. In a saute pan, cook bacon.
11. Once cooked, add apple. Then add sugar, salt, maple, butter, and cinnamon.
12. Cook until apples are tender.
13. Pour apple and bacon into the ice cream base. Cover with plastic wrap covering the surface.
14. Place into the fridge overnight to allow the flavors develop.
15. Pour the ice cream base through a sieve to keep the bacon and apple out of the ice cream base. This will keep the apple and bacon intact while the ice cream begins to spin.
16. Spin the ice cream according to the manufacturer's directions. When halfway frozen, add the bacon and apples.
17. Remove the ice cream and into an airtight container. The texture will be similar to soft serve. Allow to harden in the freezer before eating.

When serving this dessert, warm the bread pudding in the oven slightly. Serve with cold ice cream on a brisk fall day! Don't forget to share with your friends!

Go out and support your local growers by going apple picking!!! Not only is the produce delicious, but it's organic, tasty, and inexpensive! Take those apples and make something yummy to share.