Let's Eat: Cozy up with Killen's bread pudding

KTRK logo
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Let's Eat: Ronnie Killen's bread pudding
Learn how to make Ronnie Killen's beloved bread pudding.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Nothing says wintertime like a steaming dish of bread pudding. Cuddle up with Chef Ronnie Killen's mouth-watering dessert:

INGREDIENTS

Bread pudding

  • 6 large croissants, torn into 1-inch pieces
  • 5-1/3 cups heavy cream
  • 7 egg yolks
  • 1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional sauce

  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced
  • 1-1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Generous 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 225F degrees. Add torn croissants to a 9 x 9-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract. Pour the cream mixture over the croissants and let soak in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Bake the bread pudding for 50 minutes to an hour, until the custard is set and jiggles slightly when gently shaken. Remove from the oven and turn on the broiler. Place the bread pudding under the broiler until the top turns deeply golden and is lightly crispy, about 2 to 5 minutes.

To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Add the apples and sauté until they have softened slightly. Add the brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon, and brandy. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue simmering for 15 minutes, until the apples are soft and the sauce is thick. Remove from heat and strain.

To serve, scoop individual portions of the bread pudding into serving bowls. Drizzle each serving with sauce.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

MORE DESSERTS:

Pineapple rum cake

Hugo Ortega's flan de maiz

Lemon curd tarlets