🍞 Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce – The Ultimate Comfort Dessert

If there’s one dessert that can instantly transport you back to simpler times, it’s bread pudding—especially when it’s the old-fashioned kind, soaked in creamy custard and kissed with a generous pour of homemade vanilla sauce. This version is the kind of recipe passed down through generations, where just the smell of it baking can warm a home and a heart.

Loaded with raisins, rich with butter and milk, and perfectly spiced with a hint of nutmeg, this classic bread pudding is everything you love about old-world desserts. The vanilla sauce, velvety and buttery, elevates each bite into a soul-soothing spoonful of comfort. Whether you’re bringing dessert to a potluck, treating yourself to a quiet evening indulgence, or sharing a taste of tradition with your kids, this is the recipe that always feels like a warm hug from grandma.

---

🥄 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• ✅ True comfort food with nostalgic, homemade flavor
• ✅ No waste! Perfect for using up stale bread
• ✅ Simple pantry staples you already have
• ✅ Crowd-pleasing vanilla sauce that makes it irresistible
• ✅ Customizable – add nuts, other dried fruit, or even a splash of bourbon

It’s an unpretentious, soul-satisfying dessert that’s just as welcome at the holiday table as it is on a regular Sunday evening.

---

🍞 Ingredients – Simple, Old-Fashioned Goodness

This recipe keeps it classic with familiar, wholesome ingredients. There’s no need for fancy twists—just rich dairy, sweet bread, and fragrant vanilla.

For the Bread Pudding:

• 4 cups (8 slices) cubed white bread
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

🥖 Tip: Day-old bread works best—it absorbs the custard without turning to mush.

---

For the Vanilla Sauce:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

🍦 This sauce is also perfect over pancakes, waffles, or vanilla ice cream!

---

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Directions

Let’s walk through how to bring this timeless dessert to life in your kitchen.

🧁 Step 1: Prepare the Bread and Raisins

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cubed bread and raisins. This will be your flavor-packed base.

🥛 Step 2: Warm the Milk and Butter

In a 1-quart saucepan, combine the milk and 1/4 cup butter. Warm over medium heat until the butter melts completely (about 4–7 minutes).

Pour the warm milk-butter mixture over the bread and raisins. Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the creamy goodness.

🍳 Step 3: Add the Remaining Pudding Ingredients

After the soak, stir in the sugar, slightly beaten eggs, vanilla, and ground nutmeg. Mix until well blended.

🍲 Step 4: Bake the Pudding

Pour the mixture into a greased 1½-quart casserole dish. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the center is set and a knife inserted comes out clean.

🍽️ Pro tip: Let it rest for 5–10 minutes after baking so it firms up before serving.

---

🍮 Vanilla Sauce Directions

This sauce is rich, buttery, and so velvety, you’ll want to pour it on everything. Here’s how to make it:

🥄 Step 1: Combine Sauce Ingredients

In a 1-quart saucepan, combine:

• Butter
• Sugar
• Brown sugar
• Heavy whipping cream

Stir occasionally over medium heat until the sauce thickens and comes to a gentle boil (about 5–8 minutes).

🍦 Step 2: Add Vanilla

Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

---

🍽️ To Serve:

Spoon warm pudding into individual dessert dishes, then ladle the vanilla sauce over each serving. You can also add a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re feeling fancy.

---

⏱️ Recipe Snapshot

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Baking Time: 40–50 minutes
• Total Time: About 1 hour
• Servings: 6–8 generous portions
• Calories: Approx. 350–400 kcal per serving (with sauce)

---

🧊 Storage Tips

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the microwave in 30-second intervals or in a 300°F oven until heated through.
• Freezer: Bread pudding can be frozen (without sauce) for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly and thaw overnight before reheating.

---

🍂 Variations and Customizations

This is the kind of dish you can make your own. Try these creative twists:

✨ Add-ins:

• Chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch
• Dried cranberries or chopped dates instead of raisins
• Grated orange zest for a citrusy note
• A splash of bourbon or rum in the sauce for adult flair

🥐 Bread Options:

• Use French bread, brioche, or challah for a richer texture
• Try cinnamon swirl bread for extra flavor
• Go gluten-free with your favorite GF bread

---

❤️ Final Thoughts – A Dessert Worth Remembering

This Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce is more than just a dessert—it’s a sweet memory made real. It’s a tribute to grandmothers, Sunday dinners, and the power of simple, humble ingredients transformed with love.

As the pudding bakes, your kitchen will fill with the aroma of butter, vanilla, and nutmeg—a scent that brings back childhood, holidays, and warm laughter. And when you serve it with that silky vanilla sauce? It’s like wrapping your guests in a cozy blanket.

Serve it warm. Share it generously. And remember, the best desserts are the ones made from the heart.

Print