Bread Pudding: Recipe Makeover
By Sidney Fry, MS, RD January 01, 2012
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
No, we're not sabotaging your healthy eating habits! This has just 300 calories.
1 of 7
Lighter Bread Pudding
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
Can a decadent, rich pudding really be made from plain old white bread? Yes, especially when that bread is drenched in heavy cream and eggs and then drowned in a butter-based caramel sauce. This hearty dessert can weigh in at 800 calories and 30 grams of saturated fat per warm, gooey bowl. Thanks, but no thanks. Our bread pudding is a slimmer, trimmer, and top-rated (by our picky Test Kitchen judges) redesign.
The Classic:Â
• 843 calories per slice
• 50.3 grams total fat
• 30.2 grams saturated fat
The Makeover:Â
• 300 calories per slice
• 4.8 grams total fat
• 2.4 grams saturated fat
1 of 7
Advertisement
Advertisement
2 of 7
Ingredient Swap: French Bread
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
At only 80 calories per ounce, crusty French bread is a healthy choice; heavier recipes may use challah, croissants, or even doughnuts!
2 of 7
3 of 7
Ingredient Swap: Caramel Sauce
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
Brown sugar, bourbon, and a pinch of salt are made rich with half-and-half instead of heavy cream, saving 6g of saturated fat per drizzle.
3 of 7
Advertisement
4 of 7
Ingredient Swap: Low-Fat Milk
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
A combination of low-fat milk and fat-free evaporated milk subs in for heavy cream and butter, saving 275 calories and 21g of saturated fat per serving.
4 of 7
5 of 7
Step 1
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
The success of this succulent pudding starts with how you treat the bread. Here's how to obtain that perfectly moist, creamy interior with a crisp outer crust.
Toast the bread cubes in the oven until lightly browned. This dries them out and allows them to soak up more of the creamy custard.
5 of 7
6 of 7
Step 2
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
Soak the bread cubes in the egg-milk mixture for at least 20 minutes to ensure maximum custard absorption. Gently press on the bread once or twice while the cubes soak.
6 of 7
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
7 of 7
Step 3
Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor
Drizzle a thin layer of sauce in the middle of the pudding to keep the bread supermoist while baking. Bake in a loaf pan to create a crispy crust around the creamy interior.