To Die for Recipe: Pumpkin Bread Pudding and a Giveaway!

Let me preface this post by telling you a secret: I hate pumpkin pie. How can I detest a humble dessert, you ask? Well that's the problem: pumpkin pie is not dessert. Rather, it is a vegetal mess, a disgraceful pairing of bland crust and not-quite-wholesome filling. When I want dessert, I want unabashed indulgence, not a squash that can't get it's act together. This pumpkin bread pudding is therefore perfect for me. It's everything pumpkin pie wishes it could be!

Honestly, this is SO good. Smooth, melt in your mouth custard goodness meets the tender give of crusted bread, and a subtle pumpkin flavour complements the gentle undertones of spice. Plus it's practically foolproof: no finicky pastry and weepy pie filling to contend with. Just stir, pour, and bake. Not only would I serve this at Thanksgiving with a dollop of whipped cream, I would also enjoy it at a winter brunch. Or maybe just by myself, with a really big spoon and no one to interrupt me.

 
But wait, there's more! Leave me a comment with your favourite Thanksgiving dessert---or if you're not celebrating Thanksgiving this week, just share your favourite holiday dessert---and you'll be in the running to win the GORGEOUS cookbook that this recipe came from! The All-American Dessert Book is one of my favourite cookbooks of all time and boasts such fare as 'Vanilla Chocolate Trifle with Apricot Sauce' and 'Bourbon Pecan Fudge Cake'. Believe me, you WANT this cookbook, if only because the photos are so droolworthy. And don't worry, I'll remind you about the giveaway with another divine Thanksgiving recipe from this book, coming later in the week!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Courtesy of The All-American Dessert Book by Nancy Baggett

4 large eggs
1 cup packed brown sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for sprinkling on pudding
1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
1 15 oz. can pumpkin (not pie filling, just plain pumpkin)
2 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
5 1/2 cups cubed French bread (Brioche would be amazing too!)
3/4 cup dried cranberries (I used dried cherries for fun)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Beat eggs until pale yellow and fluffy. Beat in brown sugar until dissolved and add milk, cream, pumpkin and spices. Pour over the bread, stir to coat, and let sit for 10 minutes. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, then sprinkle the 3 tablespoons sugar on top. Bake another 15 or so minutes, or until the top is slightly firm when pressed. Cool and devour!

Comments

[mary jo]

This bread pudding sounds so delicious--and I would SO like to win this cook book! My favorite holiday dessert is without a doubt warm pecan pie made by someone who knows what they're doing (meaning not too sweet, not too much Jessica, a thin, with fresh pecans and it must have a dollop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream on top. Have I embarassed myself yet?

[Catherine]

In Australia, pumpkin rarely is used in deserts - more likely it's roasted as a vegetable, made into a soup, or mixed into a risotto. The only desert where pumpkin gets a look-in is pumpkin scones. But this bread looks good!

[Liz@VioletPosy]

That looks AMAZING! I'm making it this weekend :)

[Luphia]

that looks delicious! i'm not normally a pumpkin person but i've got to try this!

[Lisa]

Favorite Holiday dessert, pie, really good pie. I am not even particular on the ingredients...just not too soupy and great crust! I would love that book!

[Barbara C.]

My "official" favorite holiday dessert is apple tarts that I make with puff pastry -- SO GOOD. My "secret" favorite holiday dessert is Jello Poke Cake with Cool Whip on top. Yes, I know, not too classy, but SO SO GOOD. And reminds me of when I was a kid.

[Aimee]

Yea I'm with ya' on the pumpkin pie thing. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had it. Its the texture that I don't love.

[stephanie]

I love pumpkin bread pudding - all things pumpkin, actually. My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is a tie:

Baked Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (I made these for my sister's birthday, and high holy wow, were they good)

Homemade molasses cookies made into ice cream sandwiches with pumpkin ice cream (The Silver Palate molasses cookie recipe is my very favorite, and I get the ice cream from a local shop)

Pumpkin deliciousness!

[Runway girl]

ooohh, that looks so good.
I will have to make it for sure. thanks for sharing.

[Peonies and Polaroids]

I had pumpkin pie for the first time this month and it was disgusting! Not my idea of a pudding. I hate savoury food pretending to be pudding, pumpkin is for soup. Not desert.

My favourite dessert/pudding is a chocolate cake by Jamie Oliver that my best friend has made for every special occasion since we first made it together when we were 13. It's chocolate cake with flaked almonds in it and whipped cream, strawberries and raspberries in the middle, with delicious creamy, buttery chocolate icing on top. We've been eating it for a decade and it's still the best pudding ever.

[Megan]

i've been seeing pumpkin bread pudding recipes popping up like crazy lately and i am so eager to try it! those photos are absolutely lovely :) my favorite Thanksgiving dessert would have to be the dense, decadent and rich chocolate cake my mom makes every year for the holidays. the dark chocolate ganache layer on top is always the best part!

[Amanda]

That bread pudding looks tasty. Not a huge pumpkin pie fan either. Of course, I've never been one to turn down pie- whatever the flavor. I can't help myself.

[Daisy]

I just across your blog and wanted to let you know how great it is! I really like it! I am going to add you on my blogroll! Daisy~

[CashmereLibrarian]

Okay, this looks amazing.
Now, to enter the contest. I would really like to be exotic here, but honestly I have to say that my favorite holiday dessert is my mother's apple pie. Only two more days...I can't wait!

[little house on Green]

This pumpkin treat looks wonderful, I think I will try it . . . but I too hate pumpkin pie. It's just so worng on so many levels.

My favorite part of the meal is the sweet potatoes (just the plain potato with butter, no marshmallow goo) and mixing that with the cranberry sauce :) For dessert, some berry / fruit pie with think and flaky crust. Mmmmm. I'm looking forward to Thursday!

[Alice Q.]

That looks great - and I looove your pan!!

[blair]

Sounds so good! I love new takes on the classics.My favorite dessert for thanksgiving is pumpkin tiramisu (I posted it yesterday. It is so much lighter and creamier than pumpkin pie. As a main dish i would have to say drunken cranberries!

[Ladelle]

I'm so glad I found your blog- your writing is beautiful and everything you put on it is lovely...I love the combination of design and wonderful recipes...Thank you for sharing. My favorite dessert is an old recipe from BonAppetit~Lemon Curd Cake, dense & delicious-a labor of love to make. Happy Thanksgiving!

[Betsy]

Mmmm, pumpkin bread pudding? Well, you don't have to twist my arm-- I'll try it! I normally like a good, tart cherry pie at Thanksgiving. (Although, to be honest, I'm not one to turn down pumpkin -- or any other dessert) I also like a yummy apple crip. Anything w/ brown sugar melted on top is ok by me!

[180/360]

I'm not *gasp* a huge fan of pies, so I make a pumpkin cheesecake every Thanksgiving. It's about 3 inches high, rather dense but totally delicious with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon pecan topping. It's perfect and everyone always seems to love an alternative to pumpkin pie.

PS. The Bread Pudding looks delicious, too!

[Claire T.]

I'm definitely going to try this recipe. My all time favorite dessert that I'm actually going to make at Thanksgiving this year is baked rice pudding. It's so easy and delicious. Put in some extra cinnamon and serve it hot and it is by far the best winter dessert!

[jessica]

that sounds so good! I do like pumpkin pie and other thanksgiving treats, but when this time comes around my heart is set on my grandmother's peanut butter fudge. it is the most amazing treat ever invented. yum.

[Melissa]

I'm not a fan of pumpkin pie either, I think it's definitely a texture thing:) I would definitely give this pumpkin bread pudding a chance. My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is apple crisp but I love it all year round:)

[Stacia]

Warm Chocolate Pots with Crystalized Ginger on top. That has to be a last meal inclusion right there. :)

[Georgia]

i'm thinking the bowl it's in is to die for! i love it!