Celebrate the season with my Cranberry Eggnog Bread Pudding!
Bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food and this oh so flavorful version of my classic dessert went over so well, it’s now becoming a family tradition.
I’ve been meaning to make Cranberry Eggnog Bread Pudding for quite a few years now and time or ingredients never seem to be on my side. I’d be all set to make to find out that Lisa had gotten into the eggnog, or it would after Christmas when I remembered…..sigh.
But this year the stars were aligned and I made this delightful, rich and somewhat decadent dessert to share with you this holiday season.
What ingredients do I need to make Cranberry Eggnog Bread Pudding?
Let’s start by gathering our ingredients (aka mise en place). As you can see its really pretty simple and there are only a few tricks that will help you become the master of bread pudding.
Bread Pudding Chef Tips
One of the major problems with most bread puddings is there’s not enough liquid in the mixture.
I know you’ve all had the bread puddings that could double as a doorstop and that’s because there was not enough milk to keep the texture like pudding.
The other issue I sometimes see is the omission or simply not enough eggs to make the custard. This is really essential with the additional liquid. Think egg custard with bread in it.
As you can see from my bread pudding pictured above the egg nog mixture almost came up to the top of the baking dish. Allowing it to soak in before baking helps as well.
When it comes out of the oven it’s puffed up really nicely and as it cools it will set back down to the level of the dish or a little lower. This is normal.
After allowing it to cool down, you can now top it with the bourbon cream cheese frosting. You can also skip the frosting and serve it with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or creme Anglais. Although the cream cheese frosting is almost the best part.
You don’t have to allow it to cool down completely, and warm is even better. The only problem you’ll have is the shape of the pudding. I promise no one will care what it looks like once they taste it.
Allowing it to cool down completely will let it keep its shape, but its best right out of the oven.
Anyway, you serve it, I promise you your guests are going to be ah-mazed at the flavor and the originality of the dessert. If cranberries aren’t your thing, try blueberries, it’s equally delicious, just not quite as festive.
Here is the link for the original version of my Classic Bread Pudding.
Recipe FAQ’s
Bread pudding can trace it’s roots to the early 11th and 12th centuries. Nothing could be wasted in those times and cooks looked for ways to use stale, leftover bread instead of letting it go to waste. It became known as the “poor man’s pudding” now it’s simply delicious comfort food!
You simply didn’t use enough milk and egg mixture if your bread pudding is dense and heavy. Eggs make it rich and light, think of it as custard being poured over the bread.
Yes. you can. Double wrap it in plastic wrap and foil. Don’t add the topping until it’s defrosted and reheated.
More Desserts You’ll Love!
Cranberry Eggnog Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Bread Pudding
- 1 loaf Potato Bread cut into cubes (more if you need it, the bread should mound high above your casserole dish.)
- 4 cups Egg Nog
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure Vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ¼ lb butter – softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened. (not whipped cream cheese)
- 1 cup Confectioners sugar (aka 10X) more if you like it sweeter
- 1 tablespoon bourbon, whiskey or rum (use vanilla extract for a non alcoholic version)
Instructions
Bread Pudding
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and get out a 9 x 9 baking dish
- cut potato bread into cubes and place in a baking dish
- mix in the cranberries with the cut bread
- In your mixer or a large container, mix the eggnog, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla together, making sure all the eggs are beaten into the milk and all the sugar has been incorporated.
- pour this mixture over the cut bread, mixing it well so that all of the bread has absorbed some of the milk. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, overnight in the fridge is even better.
- Cover the prepared bread pudding with cling wrap (don’t worry it won’t melt then with aluminum foil and Bake for One hour at 350 degrees)
- Uncover and continue to bake for 15 minutes more or until the center is fully set.
- The bread pudding will rise quite a bit, but sadly it will fall, this won’t affect the flavor.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Whip the butter and cream cheese in your mixture at high speed to get some air into it.
- Turn the mixer down all the way and add the confectioner's sugar gradually increasing the speed
- Add the vanilla and mix well
- spread cream cheese frosting over the warm bread pudding, serve and enjoy.
nancy
just in time for the holidays! i can’t wait for the guests to try this!
Jeannie
So much flavors in this cranberry eggnog recipe, its time to make this recipe to complete the festive season
Audrey
This is perfect for the holidays! Delicious
Amy H
That bread pudding sounds so good! Especially the frosting. I like a good cream cheese frosting.
Vanessa Palma
Oh my. You had me at bread pudding. It’s my absolute favorite dessert on the planet! I need to make this one.
1stopmom
This eggnog bread pudding looks delicious. I love that the recipe is so easy to follow. I have only had bread pudding in restaurants. I definitely want to try to make my own.
Rosemary
I’m a huge banana bread fan and this twist with eggnog sounds divine! The recipe looks simpler than I imagined. Agreed, I love my bread pudding moist and with creme anglais. Delish! Thank you for sharing it.
Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers
Yum, this sounds amazing. I love a glass of eggnog during the holidays even if it is so unhealthy. hahha I’ll have to make some of this bread pudding.
Sarah Bailey
This sounds like such a great festive treat. It is definitely something I need to try.
Lynndee
That bread pudding looks so good. I think that would be the perfect breakfast on Christmas morning.
Catalina
Yummy! the perfect Thanksgiving breakfast! A must make recipe for sure!
Brandy
This looks like such a delicious idea. I’ll have to give your recipe a try. I’ve never had bread pudding, nevermind eggnog bread pudding.
Pam Wattenbarger
That looks so good. I am a huge bread pudding fan and the addition of cranberries makes it over the top.
Gisele
This recipe looks incredible. I love cranberries so I’m going to try this. Thank you
Theresa
Bread pudding is such a wonderful holiday recipe. I have never tried one with cranberry, so I definitely want to make yours over Christmas break. It sounds scrumptious!
Tee
This is such a creative recipe. I love all the ingredients included. Thanks for sharing!
Amber Myers
This looks like an incredible dessert. I will have to give it a try one day. I am sure my family will love it!
Jan Gay
Great recipes
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you!