Bread Pudding Cake with Raisins and Warm Spices

Bread Pudding Cake
Bread Pudding Cake is a comforting baked dessert that transforms simple day-old bread into a warmly spiced custard treat. Rooted in traditional British and early American kitchens, bread pudding was originally created as a thrifty way to avoid waste. This version, enriched with butter, brown sugar, eggs, and fragrant spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, bakes into a soft, custardy cake with bursts of raisins and currants throughout. Lightly sweet and warmly spiced, it’s often served warm with cream, making it a timeless favorite for cozy gatherings and homestyle meals.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 285 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices day-old white bread (crumbled)
  • 1 ¾ cups milk
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup currants
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 2 eggs (beaten)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pan

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease an 11×7-inch baking pan.

Step 2: Prepare Bread

  • Crumble the day-old white bread.
  • Set aside.

Step 3: Heat Milk Mixture

  • In a saucepan, heat milk, butter, and brown sugar.
  • Bring mixture just to a boil, stirring until butter melts.

Step 4: Combine with Bread

  • Pour hot milk mixture over crumbled bread.
  • Let stand 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Add Remaining Ingredients

  • Stir in raisins, currants, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and beaten eggs.

Step 6: Bake

  • Pour mixture into greased baking dish.
  • Bake 40–45 minutes until set and lightly golden.

Step 7: Serve

  • Remove from oven.
  • Sprinkle with additional brown sugar if desired.
  • Serve plain, with cereal, or whipped cream.

Tips

  • Substitute golden raisins for a lighter flavor.
  • Add chopped apples for extra texture.
  • Replace currants with chopped prunes as noted on the card.
  • Add a splash of vanilla extract.
  • Sprinkle turbinado sugar on top before baking for crunch.
  • Serve with warm vanilla custard.
  • Use brioche or challah for a richer pudding.
  • Add a tablespoon of molasses for deeper flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 7gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 210mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baked dessert, comfort food, holiday baking, nostalgic food, thrifty cooking, vintage, warm spices
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