Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, 2008

Show: Giada at HomeEpisode: A Family Thanksgiving

Rated: 3 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (26)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
--
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 12 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 57 min

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, plus extra for greasing the pan
1 pound butternut squash, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
4 parsnips, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
Kosher salt for seasoning
Freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
1 (1 pound) loaf brioche, challah, or sourdough bread, cut or torn into 1-inch pieces
3 cups heavy cream
8 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

Directions

Set an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash and parsnips. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Set aside to cool.

Add the bread to a large bowl.

In another bowl mix together the heavy cream, eggs, brandy, vegetable oil, brown sugar, cinnamon and thyme. Pour the cream mixture over the bread and toss gently to coat. Add the cooled vegetables and toss until the bread is coated. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the bread pudding is puffed and golden.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Jane Lawrence, KS 11-28-2009
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Wonderful side dish
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this dish for Thanksgiving to rave reviews! Having read comments, I reduced the cinnamon to 2 tsp. and gave just the... right hint of taste. I did not have brandy, so subsituted 1/2 c. white wine, cooked the veggies about 15 min. The final pudding was light and fluffy and delicious with a predominance of the butternut squash and parsnips. I will definitely make it again!Read more
recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Sharon Concord, NH 11-28-2009
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Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Loved it! Followed the exact recipe. Yes the butternut squash and parsnips did take longer than five minutes to soften which... is what I expected anyway where I do cook those vegetables alot. My family loved it at Thanksgiving and I will definitly make this again. S.Ficek,N.H.Read more
recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Cheryl Chatsworth, CA 11-26-2009
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Igor's favorite?
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

Giada's brother Igor must like his brandy because this bread pudding does have an overpowering brandy flavor. I made it this... Thanksgiving morning and the house smelled amazingly wonderful. I think we will serve it tonight with some sweetened whipped cream. Next time I'll cut the brandy to 1/4 cup, like the other reviewers said, and I'll add a cup of walnuts to the top. Read more
recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Sue El Dorado Hills, CA 11-17-2009
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Bad deal
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I always love Giada's recipes and prepare them quite often. I watched her make this one and thought I would give it a try... and if it was good I would prepare it as a side dish for this Thanksgiving. I'm glad I tried it ahead of time. I was so disappointed in all the expense, time, etc. that I went through for the recipe. I had also read the reviews...some bad, some good, but tried it anyway. I followed the recipe exactly except for the brandy and I cut it in half since I had read several reviews stating it was over-powering. My husband took one taste and asked if I wanted him to pour it out. I had already tried a few bites and knew it was a disaster. Also, the veggies took much more time than five minutes to start to soften. I would not recommend this to anyone. Don't waste your time and money. SueRead more
recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
Marissa Kenmore, NY 10-13-2009
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Some changes = great fall dish
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

As said by other comments if you change the recipe a little the dish can be amazing. I used carrots instead of parsnips, cut... the eggs down to 6 from 8 based on another person's comment, added cranberries for some tartness and then instead of using brandy used 1/2 cup Sam Adam's Octoberfest beer. My boyfriend who was very hesitant to eat bread pudding as dinner rather then desert loved it and we found that it was good reheated and picked at cold.Read more
recipe Sweet and Savory Bread Pudding
null null, null 01-25-2009
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Made a Few Changes, but Tasty & Simple
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

We are die-hard Giada fans in this house, so when I saw this recipe I wanted to try it out. Unfortunately, we had a lot of... picky eaters over the holidays, so it was a no go for the Thanksgiving/Christmas table. I finally got around to picking up some Parsnips (fyi: if you can't find them, carrots are a good substitute. Almost the exact same flavor) and Thyme and decided what the heck. My husband is not a drinker, so I had to cut the brandy and I find that heavy cream makes a bread pudding almost TOO heavy if it's not a dessert, so I used milk instead. I also cut it down to 6 eggs instead of 8 and used brioche (if you can't find it, it's super easy to make, it's just a quick egg bread). By no means is it my favorite Giada dish, but it's a refreshing take on the classic savory bread pudding, plus it's a good way to introduce parsnips to skeptics (aka my husband)!. I will probably try it again and add some golden raisins, maybe soak them in the brandy so the taste isn't so overwhelming throughout the dish. All in all, good recipe, but it has to be reserved for people that enjoy all the flavors, not a picky eater table dish! Enjoy! Read more