Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

Name: Sarah Gray Miller’s Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Cook time: PT0D1H20M
Total time: PT0D1H20M
Yield: serves 8-10
Ingredients: 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for greasing; 1 cup sugar; ½ cups heavy cream; ¼ cups bourbon; 1 tsp. kosher salt; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 cup raisins; ½ cups bourbon; 6 medium croissants, halved lengthwise; 3 large eggs; 2½ cups heavy cream; ¾ cups sugar; 2 tbsp. vanilla extract; ½ tsp. kosher salt; ½ cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted, divided; Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving

Douse flaky, custard-drenched viennoiserie in a buttery hard sauce for this grown-up take on a cozy classic.

Serves
serves 8-10
Time
1 hour 20 minutes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTINE ALBANO; PROP STYLING BY CARLA GONZALEZ-HART

By Sarah Gray Miller

Updated on April 27, 2022

This extravagant bread pudding from author and editor Sarah Gray Miller uses croissants and a generous amount of heavy cream. Soak the raisins in the bourbon while you assemble the rest of the dish.

Featured in: "The 2020 Saveur 100."

Equipment

Ingredients

For the sauce:

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 cup sugar
½ cups heavy cream
¼ cups bourbon
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the pudding:

1 cup raisins
½ cups bourbon
6 medium croissants, halved lengthwise
3 large eggs
2½ cups heavy cream
¾ cups sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. kosher salt
½ cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted, divided
Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving

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Instructions

Step 1

Make the sauce: To a 12-inch cast-iron skillet set over medium heat, add the butter, sugar, cream, bourbon, salt, and vanilla. When the liquid boils, pour the sauce into a bowl and set aside. Clean the skillet, then grease with butter.

Step 2

Make the pudding: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°F. To a small bowl, add the raisins and pour over the bourbon to soak; set aside. On a baking sheet, place the croissants cut-side up and bake until lightly browned, 8–12 minutes.

Step 3

Turn the heat to 350°F. Drain the raisins (save the infused bourbon for another use). In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt. When the croissants are cool enough to handle, tear them into bite‑size pieces. Cover the bottom of the empty skillet with half of the croissant pieces, then sprinkle with half of the raisins and ¼ cup of the pecans. Repeat with the remaining croissant pieces, raisins, and pecans, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Bake until the custard is set and the top is golden, 45–50 minutes.

Step 4

To serve, drizzle the warm bread pudding with the sauce, then cut it into squares or wedges and top each serving with whipped cream or ice cream.

Make the sauce: To a 12-inch cast-iron skillet set over medium heat, add the butter, sugar, cream, bourbon, salt, and vanilla. When the liquid boils, pour the sauce into a bowl and set aside. Clean the skillet, then grease with butter.
Make the pudding: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°F. To a small bowl, add the raisins and pour over the bourbon to soak; set aside. On a baking sheet, place the croissants cut-side up and bake until lightly browned, 8–12 minutes.
Turn the heat to 350°F. Drain the raisins (save the infused bourbon for another use). In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt. When the croissants are cool enough to handle, tear them into bite‑size pieces. Cover the bottom of the empty skillet with half of the croissant pieces, then sprinkle with half of the raisins and ¼ cup of the pecans. Repeat with the remaining croissant pieces, raisins, and pecans, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Bake until the custard is set and the top is golden, 45–50 minutes.
To serve, drizzle the warm bread pudding with the sauce, then cut it into squares or wedges and top each serving with whipped cream or ice cream.