Showing posts with label vanilla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vanilla. Show all posts

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Brioche bread pudding is topped with rich vanilla sauce


I don’t know about you, but sometimes this dismal weather can get to you. We’ve had more than our share of dank, dreary, cool New England days this spring. A sure cure for me is a wonderful dessert such as today’s bread pudding made with chunks of rich brioche, heavy cream (don’t skimp on the good stuff, we can find our bathing suit bodies later) and the creamy European-style butter, Plugra®. I discovered this rich butter recently and I don’t know how I’ve managed to live so long without it. It's great for baking because it has a lower water content than regular butter. Use unsalted for baking and cooking, and the salted version at the table as a spread.

Top this decadent bread pudding with a vanilla butter sauce, also made with Plugra® and a whole cup of white wine, and you’re in bread pudding heaven. And thanks to my good friend Risa Golding in New Jersey for sharing this recipe.

BRIOCHE BREAD PUDDING WITH PLUGRA® VANILLA SAUCE

Brioche bread pudding:
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups half-and-half
4 ounces granulated sugar
16 ounces chopped brioche bread, 1/4-inch size (1 day old)
8 ounces Plugra® European-Style Butter, unsalted, melted
3 ounces brown sugar

Combine heavy cream, half-and-half, and granulated sugar and set aside.
Place chopped bread in buttered baking dish.
Pour prepared liquid mixture over bread and let soak for 1 hour.
Combine melted Plugra® butter and brown sugar; set aside.
Bake at 375 degrees F., covered, in a water bath (set baking dish in larger pan of very hot water) for 1 hour. After 30 minutes baking, brush top with melted butter and brown sugar sauce mixture. Continue baking for remaining 30 minutes, uncovered.

Plugra® vanilla butter sauce:
1 cup white wine
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 vanilla bean
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 pound Plugra® European-Style butter, unsalted, softened

In small saucepan, combine wine, sugar, and vanilla bean. Simmer to half; add heavy cream and reduce by half again. Immediately beat in half the Plugra® butter to form a creamy paste.
Over low heat, continue beating in a piece of butter at a time just as previous piece is almost fully incorporated. The sauce should have the consistency of a light hollandaise sauce.
To Serve: Spoon warm bread pudding into 3-ounce serving cups and top with sauce. Yield: 12 3-ounce servings.
(Recipe by Chef Dewey Losasso, Executive Chef/Co-Owner, North One 10 in Miami)


Monday, June 9, 2008

Slow cooker bread pudding with vanilla sauce beats the heat

We complained when it was too cold not long ago, and now it’s pay-back time. In the northeast corner of the US, we’re sweltering with high temps and humidity. And even though I’m not a big fan of AC, right now it feels pretty darn good. Even here on the New England shore, the ocean breezes seem to be on vacation.

But, the quest for bread pudding must go on!

Thankfully there are other ways to cook up a delicious pudding without heating up the oven. Today’s treat, which you can top with a wonderful vanilla sauce, “bakes” nicely in the slow cooker. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on this one toward the end of the cooking time so it doesn’t get too crispy around the edges. Also, you can sub another one of your favorite dried fruits for the raisins, such as cranberries, cherries, or apples.

I’m grateful to all the folks who sent me this recipe. I guess I’m not the only one who’s in heat. Well, uh, over bread pudding that is …


BREAD PUDDING WITH VANILLA SAUCE IN SLOW COOKER

Pudding:
8 cups cubed day-old bread
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup raisins

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Put bread in slow cooker. Combine next 6 ingredients, beat until smooth. Stir in raisins. Pour over bread and stir gently. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Watch so it doesn't get too hot and get crispy around the edges.

Vanilla Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla, or to taste

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add water, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.