Description
Grandma’s cherished banana bread pudding invites comfort and nostalgia from her Southern kitchen. Sweet caramelized bananas meld with creamy custard, offering pure culinary warmth you’ll savor with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large eggs
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 banana, sliced
- 4 cups (946 ml) cubed bread (French bread, brioche, or challah)
- 2 cups (473 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- Caramel sauce or powdered sugar (for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch baking dish with butter to prevent sticking.
- Bread Foundation: Tear bread into rustic cubes, distributing evenly across the baking dish’s bottom to create a textured base.
- Custard Composition: Whisk mashed bananas, milk, heavy cream, white and brown sugars, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and fully incorporated, ensuring a luxurious and harmonious blend.
- Moisture Infusion: Pour custard mixture over bread cubes, gently pressing to guarantee complete saturation. Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes, enabling bread to absorb flavors and liquid thoroughly.
- Baking Process: Drizzle melted butter across the surface and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pudding achieves a golden-brown exterior and sets with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from oven and garnish with sliced bananas and toasted pecans. Serve warm, accompanied by caramel sauce or a delicate sprinkle of powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old or slightly stale bread for optimal texture absorption and richer flavor development.
- Banana Ripeness Tip: Use overripe bananas with dark spots for maximum natural sweetness and deeper banana flavor profile.
- Prevent Soggy Bottom: Let the bread cubes sit in the custard mixture for exactly 10 minutes to ensure perfect moisture balance without becoming overly wet.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute dairy milk with almond or oat milk for lactose-free version, and use gluten-free bread for celiac-friendly adaptation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 338
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg