There are a few desserts that will always be on top of my nostalgic pudding list … and one of them is my mom’s bread pudding. She tells me that her version of bread pudding comes from my aunt Bettie from Kroonstad in the Free State. In this recipe you don’t use slices of bread but rather bread crumbs and you add nutmeg and this soft meringue blanket on top. In my version I used ghee to add a nutty flavour to the dish and if you want to be a traditionalist you can add some apricot jam on top of the pudding before you add the meringue. In our house, bread pudding was always served with homemade custard or a crème anglaise.
Watch me make this by clicking here.
This dessert’s simplicity lends itself to different interpretations and countless variations and any type of bread may be used – although white breads are the more commonly used. For me bread pudding is definitely comfort food with a big C.
But where does the original bread pudding come from? Bread puddings date back many centuries. Its origins can even be traced back to the days of the Romans! Back in those ancient times citizens could ill-afford to waste food so a variety of recipes stale bread were invented and became commonplace. Bread pudding was one of these recipes. Bread puddings were not only made by the Romans. Ancient versions of bread pudding include Om Ali, an Egyptian dessert made from bread, milk or cream, raisins and almonds; Eish es Serny, a Middle Eastern dish made from dried bread, sugar, honey syrup, rosewater and caramel; and Shahi Tukra, an Indian dish made from bread, ghee, saffron, sugar, rosewater and almonds.
- 2 Cups bread crumbs (6 slices of bread)
- 2¼ Cups milk
- 4 Egg yolks – beaten
- ¼t Nutmeg
- 2T Sugar
- 3T Melted ghee (clarified butter)
- ¼t Salt
- To smear on after the first bake
- 2T Apricot jam (optional)
- For meringue
- 4 Egg whites
- 2T Sugar
- Pinch of cream of tartar
- Pinch of salt
- Preheat oven to 160°C.
- Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk for a few minutes and then add all the other ingredients.
- Put in a buttered baking dish and bake for one hour.
- While the pudding is baking beat the eggs till soft peaks and then add the cream of tartar + salt + add the sugar spoon by spoon. Beat till you get a soft meringue.
- Smear some apricot jam thinly on top of the pudding and then add the meringue on top of the pudding - bake till golden brown for about 8 minutes.
- Serve with homemade custard.
Ja ons moet dit bewaar x
Ek het ook nog sulke hand geskrewe resepte van my ma. Lief hierdie poeding!
me too 😉 so precious x
I love these old fashioned ‘hand me’ down recipes!
baie dankie vir die mooi boodskap x
I love your blog…and your writing and the recipes! Die broodpoedingresep is soos my ma dit gemaak het …..en die manier van resep neerskryf, ook!! Thanks it was a wonderful stroll down memory lane! Isabella.
Thanks Glynis
You have the knack of making your food look scrummy! well done. This was known as Queen of puddings in my day.
Thank you so much for this lovely comment and popping in. You made my day x
You will love it – enjoy x
Oh, my goodness, I discovered your blog late last night and it is one of the best, yummiest food blogs I have seen in a very long time. Pity I have discovered it now that I am trying to lose a little weight. Oh well. Anyway, the photos are stunning, the recipes all have a lovely little twist to them, and they (well, most of them) look like even I could (possibly) have success at trying them. Best of all, it is Proudly South African, which means that for once I will be able to find the ingredients without too much fuss. Yay! (Bread and butter pudding is one of my winter favourites, although I haven’t made it in years.)
Sjoe, maar dit lyk heerlik. Ek gaan dit beslis die naweek maak. Tx Anel
Thanks Anina – i LOVE it
Wow – looks like a comforting desert I would have any time!!
Thanks Mary xx
Thanks for popping in Sue xx
Thanks Auntie Bettie for the recipe, good job you also wrote it out in Engels! 🙂
Anel this looks fabulous and no more dry slced bread sticking ou !!
I am going to try it tonight
Keep going girl wew need you fabulous ideas
Lots of lveo XX