Description

This Gingerbread Pudding is a cozy, comforting dessert perfect for holiday nights. Bursting with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, this pudding combines the richness of molasses and brown sugar with soft, soaked bread cubes for a tender, flavorful treat. Easy to prepare and baked to a golden perfection, it’s ideal served warm with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream to enhance the festive ambiance.

Ingredients

Scale

Liquid Ingredients

2 cups Milk (whole or any milk of choice)
1 cup Heavy Cream (substitute with non-dairy cream for a lighter version)
1 cup Brown Sugar (can swap with coconut sugar for a healthier twist)
1/2 cup Molasses (try blackstrap molasses for a less sweet alternative)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (imitation vanilla is a good alternative in a pinch)

Dry Ingredients and Spices

2 teaspoons Ground Ginger (fresh ginger can be a spicier alternative)
2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon (mix in apple pie spice for a delightful twist)
1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg (optional but recommended for added depth)
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves (can be substituted with allspice if needed)

Other Ingredients

4 cups Bread Cubes (stale bread works best, gluten-free options are available)
4 large Eggs (use flaxseed meal or egg replacers for vegan options)

Instructions

Preparation Steps: Prepare all ingredients by measuring and gathering them for easy access during cooking.
Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect baking temperature.
Mix Liquids and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, and molasses until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
Soak Bread Cubes: Stir the stale bread cubes into the milk mixture, ensuring all cubes are submerged. Let them soak for 15 minutes to absorb the liquid flavors fully.
Prepare Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add in the ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and vanilla extract, mixing well to combine all spices evenly.
Combine Mixtures: Gently fold the egg and spice mixture into the soaked bread mixture, blending everything evenly without deflating the eggs too much.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish generously, then pour the pudding mixture in, smoothing out the top evenly.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is a beautiful golden-brown color.
Cool and Serve: Remove the pudding from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Serve warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream for an indulgent holiday dessert.

Notes

Stale bread is preferred as it absorbs the liquid better without becoming soggy.
For a vegan version, substitute eggs with flaxseed meal egg replacer and use non-dairy cream and milk.
You can swap brown sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup for a healthier alternative.
Blackstrap molasses gives a deeper, less sweet flavor compared to regular molasses.
Fresh ginger can be used instead of ground for a spicier kick, but reduce quantity to one teaspoon.
If you want extra texture, sprinkle chopped nuts or raisins before baking.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Gingerbread pudding, holiday dessert, baked pudding, molasses dessert, spiced pudding, cozy dessert