Best Bread Pudding Recipes: White Chocolate Or Vanilla Bread Pudding For Two

I made the chocolate bread pudding for 2 and changed it a bit from the recipe I found in my Cooking Light Cookbook. Especially nice about this recipe is that you can make it for just 2 people or you can double it or triple it and use a 13 x 9 pan to hold the ramekins while they cook. There are many different ways you can vary this recipe as well.

This recipe is the old fashioned kind that you bake in a water bath but it keeps the pudding moist and delicious so it is worth that little extra step.

Since I am unable to eat chocolate, I needed to come up with a variation for myself so went back to the drawing board. I think this version turned out equally well though my husband's variation is still the chocolate version!

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1-3/4 cups cubed bread (you can use most any kind - I used homemade French)
• 2/3 cup nonfat milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons vanilla powder or substitute vanilla pudding mix powder
• 1 tablespoon amaretto (or other liqueur)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (substitute almond extract if using amaretto)
• 1 large egg lightly beaten (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
• Cooking spray
• 1 ounce white chocolate chopped or white chocolate chips pulsed in food processor
• Whipped cream or whipped topping

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. On cooking sheet, place the bread cubes in single layer. Then bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until toasted.
3. Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla powder, amaretto or other liqueur, extract and egg in a bowl or large measuring cup. Stir well with a whisk.
4. Add the bread tossing to coat.
5. Cover and chill for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
7. Divide half of the bread mixture between two 6-ounce custard cups or ramekins coated with cooking spray.
8. Sprinkle evenly with half of the white chocolate.
9. Divide the remaining bread mixture between the ramekins.
10. Top with the remaining white chocolate.
11. Place the ramekins inside an 8-inch square baking pan and add hot water to the pan to a depth of 1 inch.
12. Bake at 325 for 35 minutes or until set.
13. Serve warm with whipped cream.

• Use strong coffee and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in place of the amaretto or any other liqueur
• Substitute Grand Marnier and chopped dried apricots for the white chocolate for a very delicious fruity/citrus variation. Sprinkle some dried orange peel on top of the whipped cream for a little added zest
• Use any kind of chocolate and combine with the vanilla powder or vanilla pudding - you will just have more of a vanilla flavor to the bread pudding
• Add chopped walnuts or other nuts to the bread puddings for a slightly different taste
• If using amaretto, using almond extract enhances the flavor of the amaretto
• Substitute fresh slightly poached diced apple chunks for an apple bread pudding and substitute caramel mini-morsels for the chocolate
• Dried blueberries or cranberries also make a delicious bread pudding - just soak them as you would raisins, drain and then add to the recipe instead of chocolate - either caramel morsels or chocolate or vanilla chips or chopped chocolate would be great combined with the berries
• Just about anything you can think of can become a dessert bread pudding - experiment and find what suits your tastes best - also experiment with bread - sweeter or less sweet but do take the time to toast it - it really makes the bread pudding spectacular!