Description
A rich, spiced bread pudding loaded with pears and cardamom, baked until tender, then topped with a luscious orange‑infused caramel sauce—perfect for holidays or dessert dinners.
Ingredients
12 cups cubed French bread
2 tbsp butter
3 pears, peeled and diced
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp ground cardamom (divided)
5 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup sugar
½ tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp raw turbinado sugar (optional)
For the Caramel Sauce:
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
10 cardamom pods, crushed
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup water
6 tbsp butter, cubed
¼ cup orange juice
Zest of 1 orange
½ tsp kosher salt
Pinch ground cardamom
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake bread cubes 7–10 min until dry. Grease 13×9″ dish.
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Sauté pears with butter, brown sugar, ½ tsp cardamom until tender. Reserve syrup.
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Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, 1½ tsp cardamom, salt, and syrup.
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Layer bread and pears, pour custard, rest 5 min, toss again, sprinkle turbinado sugar. Bake 40–45 min.
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For sauce: Steep cream with cardamom pods; whisk butter into sugar-water heated to amber; stir in cream, orange juice, zest, salt, and cardamom. Serve warm.
Notes
- Make-ahead friendly: assemble pudding up to a day before.
- Add crunch with nuts or gratinated topping.
- Sauce can be made in advance and gently reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking + Stove-Top
- Cuisine: American / Comfort Dessert
