Bread Pudding with Sautéed Peaches

Bread Pudding sits at the top of the list of the limited dessert repertoire that developed in traditional New Orleans cuisine. Could have something to do with the hot and humid climate. Who would have wanted to turn on the oven to produce cakes and pies? And items like croquants or spun sugar didn’t stand a chance in the humidity. But we do love Bread Pudding, and in this instance,  Louisiana’s Creole cooks’ thriftiness outweighed their heat phobia – they hated to waste any of the French bread traditionally eaten with every meal. We indulge in it all year round.

At the end of summer, I hurry to pair it with the last of our peach crop, which here in L.A., will last for a couple more weeks. But not to worry, when our peaches are done, fall is nipping at summer’s heels, and there will be pears to sauté with a brandy, or a tasty liqueur, to serve alongside my bread pudding.

Bread Pudding 

• 5 ounces stale croissants or brioche *, cut into small pieces
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 ounces sugar
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
•  8– 4 ounce ramekins, well buttered

1. Mix together the bread, raisins and coconut. Fill the ramekins loosely with the bread mixture. Alternatively, the pudding may be baked in a small well buttered loaf pan, and sliced to serve.
2.  Scald the half and half.
3.  Blend together the eggs and sugar. Slowly whisk the scalded cream into the  egg/sugar mixture, then pour the mixture evenly into the molds. 
4.  Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 20 minutes.
5.  Allow the puddings to set before unmolding them onto a plate, or slicing. Serve napped with Sautéed Peaches or Pears.

* New Orleanians traditionally make Bread Pudding with leftover staled French Bread (some are quite adamant about it), but leftover Brioche, Croissant or Danish pastry make a delicious, somewhat fluffier – and richer- bread pudding. 

Sautéed Peaches

• 2 cups ripe peaches
• 2 ounces butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup bourbon

Put the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling,  add the peach slices. Do not crowd them. They should be in a single layer which may require sautéeing in two batches. Sauté them until they are slightly softened.

1. Sprinkle the peach slices with the sugar, and sauté, turning them over gently, until they just begin to brown on the edges. This may require turning up the heat slightly.
2. Turn the heat off, then add the bourbon. Ignite the bourbon with a match, and allowing the alcohol to burn off until the flame dies out. Turn the heat back on, and reduce the liquid slightly, if desired.

Sautéed Pears 

• 4-5 small firm pears, peeled and sliced
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup sugar (vanilla sugar would be a great touch)
• 1 ounce Lovoka Caramel Liqueur*
• 1 ounce heavy cream

1. Proceed with the pear slices as with the peach slices above.
2. Turn the heat off, then add the liquer or brandy. Ignite the liquer with a match, and allowing the alcohol to burn off until the flame dies out.
3. Stir in the cream and allow the liquid to reduce slightly. If the pears have become too soft, remove them with a slotted spoon before reducing the liquid.

* I used Lovoka Caramel Liquer which is delicious and perfect for pears, but Poire William or plain Brandy would also be great with the pears. If using Brandy or Porie Wiliam, you may increase the sugar slightly, as they are less sweet that the Caramel Liquor.

BTW, you might want to check out my Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding, too.