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Why It Works
- Drying the bread within the oven drives off extra moisture so it may possibly take in extra custard with out collapsing or turning soggy.
- Sweetened condensed milk provides sweetness whereas giving the custard a dense, creamy texture that makes every chew richer and extra satisfying.
Neither banana bread nor bread pudding want a lot of an introduction. Put them collectively, although, and also you get one of the comforting desserts conceivable—plush, custardy, and stuffed with banana-scented heat. Completed with a drizzle of nutty caramel, it is a dessert that feels as proper on a vacation desk because it does on a quiet Sunday evening. This model comes from my colleague Amanda Holstein from our Birmingham, Alabama check kitchen, and it is one you will wish to come again to many times.
Banana Bread’s Softer, Creamier Facet
Consider this as banana bread at its most luxurious. Chunks of challah or brioche are dried within the oven, so that they maintain their form whereas absorbing a custard of entire milk, cream, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The condensed milk does greater than add sweetness—it offers the custard a dense, creamy physique that makes every chew particularly wealthy and satisfying. Mashed bananas are then folded into the combination, lending pure sweetness and that unmistakable banana bread taste. The bread soaks till saturated, each dice spongy with custard however nonetheless distinct sufficient to present you texture in each chew. In the event you’re feeling beneficiant, a handful of toasted pecans provides welcome crunch and nuttiness.
As soon as baked, the pudding units right into a golden, puffed slab with a evenly toasted prime and a custardy heart. Slice in and you will find pockets of mashed banana, the occasional nutty crunch, and a taste that remembers one of the best loaf of banana bread you have ever had—solely right here it is softer, creamier, and spoonable.
A Sauce That Matches the Pudding
A bread pudding this comforting deserves a topping that may match it, and Amanda delivers with brown butter caramel. Butter is cooked till intensely aromatic, the milk solids toasting and deepening to a wealthy amber, then whisked into melted sugar, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. The result’s shiny and pourable, with layered flavors which might be candy, toasty, and balanced by simply sufficient salt. Drizzled over the nice and cozy pudding, it seeps into the nooks and crannies, making every chew richer and silkier.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano
Double the Consolation
Banana bread and bread pudding every on their ownh are heat, comforting, and endlessly dependable, which makes bringing them collectively really feel inevitable. Drizzled with browned butter caramel—and possibly a scoop of ice cream if you happen to really feel prefer it—you get consolation in its most full type.
This recipe was developed by Amanda Holstein; the headnote was written by Laila Ibrahim.
Banana Bread Meets Bread Pudding within the Final Fall Dessert
Prepare dinner Mode
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For the Bread Pudding:Â
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454 g challah or brioche bread (16 ounces; about 1 loaf), lower into 1 1/2-inch cubes
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1 1/2 cups (355 ml) entire milk
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1 cup (7 1/2 ounces; 216 g) heavy whipping cream
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1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
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226 g gentle brown sugar (about 8 ounces; 1 packed cup, plus 2 packed tablespoons), divided
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4 massive eggs
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1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla extract
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1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
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1/2 teaspoon floor nutmeg
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1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for desk salt, use half as a lot by quantity
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680 g (1 1/2 kilos) very ripe bananas (about 4 or 5 bananas), mashed
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126 g (4 1/2 ounces; about 1 cup) chopped pecans, toasted, optionally available
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Cooking spray
For Brown Butter Caramel Sauce:
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85 g unsalted butter (3 ounces; 6 tablespoons)
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198 g (7Â ounces; 1 cup) granulated sugar
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1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream, at room temperature
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1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for desk salt, use half as a lot by quantity
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For the Bread Pudding: Modify oven rack to center place. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare bread cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring bread and rotating baking sheet midway by means of, till bread is totally dry, about 10 minutes. Enable bread to chill, about 10 minutes.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano
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In a big bowl, whisk milk, heavy cream, condensed milk, 1 cup (213 g) brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt till effectively mixed. Stir in mashed bananas and pecans, if utilizing. Let sit, urgent down on bread often, for five minutes. Stir gently to mix, guaranteeing the cubes of bread left unsubmerged on the highest at the moment are submerged on the underside. Proceed to soak, urgent gently on bread often till bread is saturated and custard is generally absorbed, about 5 minutes extra.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano, Meals Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Phoebe Hausser
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano, Meals Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Phoebe Hausser
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Spray a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Switch bread combination, together with any remaining liquid, into the ready baking dish and gently press cubes into custard.
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Sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Bake till heart is ready and bread is evenly toasted on prime, 50 to 55 minutes. Take away from oven and let cool for quarter-hour earlier than serving.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano
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For Brown Butter Caramel Sauce: Whereas bread pudding bakes, in a medium saucepan, cook dinner butter over medium-high warmth, stirring typically, till solids are amber, about 5 minutes. Switch to a medium heatproof bowl and let cool barely, about 5 minutes. Wash and dry saucepan.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano
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Place sugar in now-empty saucepan and cook dinner, undisturbed, over medium-low warmth, till sugar begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Gently stir or swirl pan to evenly cook dinner sugar till no clumps stay and sugar turns gentle amber, about 2 minutes. Instantly take away saucepan from warmth and thoroughly whisk in browned butter. Slowly add heavy cream (caramel combination will start to bubble), whisking consistently till mixed. Whisk in salt. Pour caramel over heat bread pudding. Alternatively, divide bread pudding into particular person parts and pour caramel over every portion. Serve.
Severe Eats / Robby Lozano
Particular Tools
Giant rimmed baking sheet; 9- x 13-inch baking dish; medium saucepan
Make-Forward and Storage
You’ll be able to assemble the pudding by means of step 3 as much as 2 days forward and retailer it, coated, within the fridge. Pop it into the oven at 350℉ (175°C) and bake till heart is ready and prime is browned, about 1 1/2 hours earlier than you wish to serve it.
As soon as cooled, leftover bread pudding might be coated and refrigerated for as much as 2 days. Reheat coated with aluminum foil within the oven at 350℉ (175°C) till warmed by means of. Take away foil and proceed baking till prime is crisp, about 10 further minutes. If serving the caramel individually, gently heat it in a small saucepan till pourable.
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