Date Nut Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

(The bread pudding shown above was made with blueberries.)

This recipe has lots of options. I like the combination of dates and nuts. If you prefer dried cranberries, dried pears, or you prefer apricot pieces--go for it. And the nuts are optional.

This is a delightful bread pudding.  We made it in ramekins but you could also make it in a six-cup baking dish.  In a baking dish, you may need to increase the baking time—just test it with a knife for doneness.

More about making bread pudding

Learn more about making bread pudding, With this article, you'll know everything you need to know about making bread pudding.

Date Nut Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients

2 large eggs
2 cups milk
2/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or rum flavoring
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 slices of white bread cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup date pieces 
1/2 cup walnut pieces

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, maple syrup, flavoring, and salt.  Whisk together well.
2. Stir in the bread cubes, nuts and fruit.  Let sit 15 minutes.
3. Turn into six buttered one-cup ramekins.  Set the ramekins in a large baking pan of water.  Pour hot water into baking pan to a depth of about 1 1/2 inches.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 or until a knife comes out clean.
4. Let cool in the ramekins.  Once cool, use a soft silicone spatula to loosen the pudding from the ramekins.  Turn the puddings out on individual plates for serving and drizzle with the sauce.

Baker’s notes: Cooking times may vary substantially depending on the pan, the amount of water added to the pan, and the temperature of the water.  The pudding will be done when the eggs set.  The knife test is simple and reliable.
We used our little blue spatula to loosen the puddings from the ramekins, turned each pudding into the palm of our hands, and then reinverted them onto serving plates.  It was easy and simple.

For the sauce

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Melt the butter in a pan.  Stir in the cornstarch.  While stirring and over medium heat, drizzle in the cream.  Add the granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is thickened and bubbly.