Description
Transform stale bread into a rich, custardy dessert with crispy edges and a soft, creamy center. Perfect for dessert, brunch, or a cozy treat any night of the week. Optional add-ins let you personalize it with chocolate, nuts, or fruit.
Ingredients
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6 cups cubed stale bread (French, brioche, or day-old bread)
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2 cups whole milk
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1 cup heavy cream
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4 large eggs (room temp)
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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¼ cup brown sugar
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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¼ tsp ground nutmeg
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Pinch of salt
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Optional: ½ cup raisins, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat & Prep
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2️⃣ Layer Bread
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Place cubed bread in the dish.
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Scatter optional mix-ins evenly among the cubes.
3️⃣ Make Custard
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In a large bowl, whisk eggs lightly.
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Add milk, cream, both sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
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Whisk until smooth.
4️⃣ Soak Bread
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Pour custard evenly over the bread.
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Press gently with spatula or hands to ensure all bread is soaked.
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Let sit 10–15 minutes.
5️⃣ Bake
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Bake 40–45 minutes until top is golden and center is just set.
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If browning too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
6️⃣ Cool & Serve
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Cool 15–20 minutes before slicing.
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Optional toppings: powdered sugar, whipped cream, vanilla sauce, caramel, or ice cream.
Notes
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Stale or toasted bread absorbs custard better than fresh bread.
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Let the custard sit on the bread for full 10–15 minutes.
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Baking times vary with pan size: deeper pans = slightly longer, shallower = slightly shorter.
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Leftovers reheat best in oven at 325°F (10–15 mins) or air fryer (5 mins).