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Bourbon Bread Pudding with Candied Nuts

The candied nuts are optional, but you're going to want to mix in something to your bread pudding for that holy-shit-this-is-great vibe. 
Print Recipe
Prep Time 40 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

Candied Nuts - Optional

  • .5 c white sugar
  • .5 c brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp chai spice (or just cinnamon or any spice you prefer)
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 lb nuts (I used raw pecan halves, hazelnuts and pistachios - you can use one type or any type!)

Bread Pudding

  • 1 loaf bread, staled brioche, white, croissant loaf, etc.
  • 5 eggs
  • .5 c white sugar
  • .5 c brown sugar
  • .5 c whole milk
  • .5 c heavy cream
  • 1 shot bourbon, optional
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 c candied nuts or nuts or other mix-ins you prefer
  • butter and sugar, for the pan (about 1 tbsp each)

Instructions
 

Candied Nuts - Optional

  • Preheat oven to 250. Line baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray; set aside. 
  • Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl; set aside.
  • Whisk egg white and water together in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss the nuts in the egg white mixture and then add the sugar mixture to the nuts and egg whites until the nuts are coated evenly. 
  • Spread onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. 
  • Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are evenly browned.

Bread Pudding

  • Cut up bread into bite size pieces. For max absorption, toast the bread to get it stale (or leave it out the night before). 
    Place in a bowl, set aside. 
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs. 
  • Add sugars to the whisked eggs, stir to combine. 
  • Add milk to egg and sugar mixture, stir to combine. 
  • Add bourbon, if using, stir to combine. 
  • Add salt, stir to combine. 
  • Pour the wet ingredients over the bread and toss the bread to get it really mixed together. 
  • Add your nuts or other mix-ins to the batter, stir to combine. 
  • Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to soak up all that goodness. Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Meanwhile, prepare your pan with butter. Top with a bit of sugar, which gives a caramelized crust to the bottom of your bread pudding! You can opt to skip the butter and use cooking spray, and skip the sugared bottom all together. 
  • Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until no liquid comes out. Start checking around 20 minutes and if it is browning too quickly, pop a sheet of foil on top.
Keyword baking, bread pudding, candied nuts, dessert