Italian Bread And Butter Pudding
The good news is this delicious Bread And Butter Pudding recipe is vegetarian and nut-free. With some substitutions, it can also be gluten-free, and dairy-free.
There’s nothing better than an easy-to-make than the well-loved flavors of panettone, creamy sauce, and Christmas spices to make an Italian Bread And Butter Pudding. This delicious dessert pudding is a mouth-watering treat for everyone, perfectly indulgent and comforting with creamy homeliness.
This luxurious pudding delivers excellence as promised. It’s the one dessert we return to time after time; our feelings for it never diminish. Should we have called it Italian bread and butter pudding or British bread and butter pudding? The ingredients for both are similar. Panettone is Italian, but the classic recipe is British. Italians use cream, but the British use milk.
What’s To Love?
💕 Perfect for kids and adults alike.
💕 Makes a great dessert for almost any occasion or any time of the day.
💕 Offers a deep, satisfying chocolate taste that chocolate lovers adore.
💕 We think the Italian panettone and Masala liqueur bring fresh zeal to this classic British pudding. The creamy sauce and chocolate add a decadent twist and indulgent poshness.
💕 You will love this timeless pudding because the ingredients are phenomenally rich and indulgent.
💕 It’s a 100% people-pleaser every time! It’s a great alternative to Christmas pudding, and perhaps it may even replace the traditional Christmas cake for some.
💕 It’s the perfect festive symphony of flavors for Christmas and Valentine’s. Because it’s so easy to make, you might be tempted to make this decadent pudding any time of the year. Heck, you might want to create this again and again!
Have you already tried Italian Bread And Butter Pudding If so, let us know how they were…we can’t wait to hear all about it!
Let’s Talk Ingredients
We feel every ingredient adds to this pudding’s overall taste and texture; if you remove one, it’s like you’ve removed them all.
- Egg Whites — Panettone — use a classic panettone with dried fruit.
- Eggs — use large eggs at room temperature.
- Masala — we use this Marsala simply because it’s Italian and has great reviews.
- Cream — use real dairy-free heavy cream.
- Sugar — use golden caster sugar; avoid using granulated because the granules are more difficult to break down.
- Butter — use dairy butter.
- Chocolate Chips — there’s nothing better than a mix of chocolate chips in a warm pudding. We use dark and milk chocolate chips for this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract — use Nielsen Massey, made with real vanilla beans and alcohol. The vanilla is quite potent and adds a beautiful richness to desserts.
- Cinnamon — use ground Ceylon cinnamon because its flavor is sweet and has a beautiful, fresh aroma and exquisite taste.
- Nutmeg — this spice is traditional for creamy custard-type desserts; it adds a lovely warmth.
- Powdered Sugar — powdered sugar (icing sugar) is used for aesthetic reasons only; it adds a lovely final touch.
For more detailed ingredients, see the recipe card.
Customizations
Here are some foodie alternatives should you want to make some changes:
- Panettone — alternatives are light and fluffy fruit bread similar to tea cake texture, and gluten-free can also be used.
- Chocolate — use dairy-free dark chocolate chips and dairy-free milk chocolate chips.
- Cream — use dairy-free cream. Thankfully, there are many dairy-free options; one brand that comes to mind and has 5-star reviews is the Coconut Collab brand. There are also soy and oat cream options.
- Sugar — if you want to cut the sugar content, use allulose, as it’s a finer sugar than granulated erythritol.
- Vanilla Extract — if you prefer a non-alcohol base, use vanilla flavoring.
- Liqueur — use an alcohol-free option. Tanqueray flor de Sevilla is a great option as it has a zesty taste of Seville orange and gin botanicals, and though not a liqueur, the taste would compliment the pudding.
Why not make your own Panettone using our Chocolate Panettone recipe? All you’d need to do is replace the chocolate chips with 100g candied orange peel, 100g candied lemon peel, and 100g raisins.
When substituting ingredients, it’s essential to remember that the taste, texture, and overall result might differ, particularly if you’re substituting many ingredients.
If you have made the Italian Bread And Butter Pudding with any customizations, we’d love to hear about it; please message us in the comments.
Instructions – Overview
Italian bread and butter pudding is easy to prepare because it requires no stovetop cooking before putting it into the oven. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started:
▶︎ Start by preheating your oven to Gas 3, 320°F, 160°C. Then grease a baking dish or casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
▶︎ Slice the panettone, butter each slice with the softened butter, and cut the slices into triangles. Then arrange half of the buttered panettone slices in the greased baking dish.
▶︎ Sprinkle half of the dark and half of the milk chocolate chips over the bread, then add the remaining bread slices to the first layer and sprinkle the remaining chocolate drops over them.
▶︎ Add the eggs, cream, masala, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Gently mix together. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and chocolate chips in the baking dish, ensuring all the bread is soaked. Press down lightly on the bread to help it absorb the liquid.
▶︎ Allow the pudding to sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard mixture fully. Then, place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is golden brown. You can check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean when the pudding is done.
▶︎ When cooked remove the pudding from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Dust the top with powdered sugar for added sweetness.
For more detailed instructions, notes, and ideas…see the recipe card.
Tools You’ll Need
Want to make the best Italian Bread And Butter Pudding? Using the correct equipment for preparation is essential; we think they’re a big helping hand. We understand that you might already have some of these kitchen tools to make this recipe, or you might want to use other tools and may not require our recommendations. Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:
- 21cm Square Dish
- kMix – or this award-winning hand mixer.
- Mixing Bowl – if you’re using a hand mixer, you will need bowls to combine the ingredients.
- Chopping Board – to clice the bread.
- Silicone Spatula – for stirring and incorporating all the ingredients smoothly.
- Weighing Scales and Measuring Spoons – to measure the ingredients accurately.
If you love those gadgets for this recipe, then might love this Kmix for mixing, whisking, creaming, and beating. Sometimes, the Kmix is a better tool than a hand mixer; it’s good at lightening the load. It’s our go-to for many of our recipes, and we think it’s a great asset for all kitchens.
Kenwood KMX750 kMix 5L stand mixer, 6-speed settings, 1000W, stainless steel, removable bowl, 5 liters, tilt design, button control, black, easy to clean and use. Tools included: K-beater, whisk, dough, splash guard, and spatula. The design is a robust metal body with a vintage design and is a decorative appliance.
Check out our favorite kitchen equipment that we love to use with all our recipes.
Storing
See our FAQs for detailed instructions on storing, refrigeration, freezing, and defrosting and for answers to readers’ questions.
Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant.
Pairing
Italian bread and butter pudding is frequently eaten as a standalone dessert, but can easily be paired. Here are some suggestions and our favorite go-to’s what to eat with it:
▶︎ Our go-to when the pudding is either warm or cold is double or Whipped Cream; it is the perfect accompaniment.
▶︎ Second to cream is Vanilla Ice Cream, which can be served warm or cold.
▶︎ Try a drizzle of agave chocolate sauce.
▶︎ What you drink when eating the bread and butter pudding counts, too. Drinking it with a cup of tea, such as Earl Gray, or a flavorful coffee to balance the sweetness is a must. Or, if you’re feeling extravagant or enjoying a festive moment, then have a small glass of Marsala; it perfectly matches the boozy ingredients.
More Recipes
Here are some other creamy-rich recipes that we think you might also like:
Thank you for checking out Bread And Butter Pudding!
We hope you enjoy making and eating it! Let us know how you get along, and please rate using the ⭐️ by the comments. HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for all of our latest updates. Happy Baking!
⭐️ Quick Tip: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand. Voila…you’re all set to go!
Italian Bread And Butter Pudding
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to Gas 3, 320°F, 160°C.
- Grease a baking dish or casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Slice the panettone.500 grams Panettone
- Butter each slice with the softened butter.30 grams Butter
- Cut slices into triangles.
- Arrange half of the buttered panettone slices in the greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle half of the dark and half of the milk chocolate chips over the bread.
- Add the remaining bread slices to the first layer and sprinkle the remaining chocolate drops over them.100 gram Dark Chocolate Chips, 100 grams Milk Chocolate Chips
- In a mixing bowl, add the eggs, cream, masala, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.4 large Eggs, 100 ml Marsala, 400 ml Double Cream, 50 grams Golden Caster Sugar, 1 tsp Vanilla Extract, 1 tsp Ground Ceylon Cinnamon, ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- Gently mix together.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and chocolate chips in the baking dish, ensuring all the bread is soaked. Press down lightly on the bread to help it absorb the liquid.
- Allow the pudding to sit for about 15-20 minutes to let the bread fully absorb the custard mixture.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is golden brown. You can check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean when the pudding is done.
- Remove the pudding from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. You can dust the top with powdered sugar for added sweetness if desired.Powdered Sugar
- Enjoy and serve!
Video
Notes
- Use high-quality ingredients for the tastiest experience.
- Use slightly stale bread or at least a day-old is ideal.
- The quality of the chocolate you use will greatly impact the flavor of the pudding. We use dark chocolate chips because it adds depth, and milk chocolate chips to balance the richness of the dessert.
- Stale bread absorbs the creamy mixture better, resulting in a creamier texture.
Allow the pudding to soak in the creamy mixture before baking for at least 15-20 minutes. It allows the liquid to sink into every bit of the panettone. - Be sure to cook this recipe LOW AND SLOW. Our recommendation is 320°F (160°C).
- The oven needs to be on the cooler side to keep the dessert soft; the last thing you want is a hard-textured pudding. If your oven is on the hotter side, turn it down lower and cook for a little longer.
- When buttering the bread slices, coat them evenly with softened butter. This step adds a lovely buttery and toasty flavor to the pudding.
- To determine if the pudding is done, insert a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean, with no raw creamy mixture clinging to it.
- Make your own Classic Panettone using our Chocolate Panettone, but replace the chocolate chips with 100g candied orange peel, 100g candied lemon peel, and 100g raisins.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free panettone or fruit bread.
- Bread: Alternatives are light and fluffy fruit bread similar to tea cake texture.
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free cream and chocolate.
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FAQ’s & Troubleshooting
By addressing these FAQs and troubleshooting tips, you can overcome common challenges and create a delicious batch of Italian Bread And Butter Pudding every time.
Your Questions Matter
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For food safety top tips, check out USDA.gov.
Hey, I’m Sharon, I’m a full-time food blogger, mother of 3 grown adults and 3 huskies. Most days you can find me in the kitchen creating new recipes, I love cooking indulgent bakes and love sharing them. I am lucky to connect with and inspire people from all around the world and help you on your cooking journey so you can eat in style!
I’ve never made bread and butter pudding with with panettone. I have to say it was absolutely outstanding. Will definitely be making again.
We’re glad you loved it Katie, we agree bread and butter pudding made with with panettone is delicious.