“I’ve never seen my grandpa go so crazy for a dessert! It’s hard to get him to eat anything these days…”

This Amaretto Bread Pudding elevates the classic comfort dessert with the rich, nutty flavor of Amaretto liqueur and crunchy slivered almonds. Soaked bread is baked in a sweet custard and then topped with a warm, boozy Amaretto sauce, making it an indulgent treat perfect for a special occasion.

Amaretto Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

For the Pudding:

For the Sauce and Serving:

Instructions:

For the Pudding:

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Bread: Preheat your oven to 325˚F (160°C). In a medium bowl, tear the brioche, Texas toast, or other thick-cut bread into bite-sized pieces.
2. Soak the Bread: Pour the half and half evenly over the torn bread. Gently toss the bread to ensure all pieces are coated with the half and half. Allow the bread to soak for 30 minutes, then toss again and let it soak for another 30 minutes. This soaking time is crucial for a moist pudding.
3. Prepare Egg Mixture: While the bread is soaking, combine the melted salted butter, granulated sugar, and eggs in a large bowl. Whisk them together until well combined and slightly lightened. Stir in the almond extract and then gently fold in the slivered almonds.
4. Assemble and Bake: Pour the soaked bread into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the bread, ensuring all the bread is moistened. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the bread on top is golden brown and the pudding is set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the baking dish with aluminum foil for the final 15 minutes of baking.

For the Sauce and Serving:

1. Make the Amaretto Sauce: While the bread pudding is baking, prepare the Amaretto sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the powdered sugar and butter. Melt the butter, stirring the sugar constantly until no lumps remain and the mixture is smooth.
2. Cool Slightly and Add Egg and Amaretto: Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the butter-sugar mixture to cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Then, whisk in the beaten egg until well incorporated and the sauce is smooth. Finally, whisk in the Amaretto liqueur.
3. Pour Sauce and Finish Baking: Once the bread pudding is done baking, pour the prepared Amaretto sauce evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and return it to the oven to bake covered for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and partially absorbed into the pudding.
4. Serve: Remove the Amaretto Bread Pudding from the oven. Serve warm with your choice of whipped cream, evaporated milk, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy this rich and flavorful dessert!