Every morning this week, before the eyelids parted, allowing visual stimulation to monopolize my brain, I have thought about…. drum roll…. Pumpkins. Pumpkin soup. Been there done that. Glazed pumpkin bread. Better. Pumpkin custard or pots de crème… hmmmm. Then it hit me, plunging into my thought pattern like an asteroid targeting the earth. Pumpkin bread pudding.
Do I wish these epiphanies contained material slightly more enlightening or benefited humankind on a broader scale? Often. Do they habitually relate primarily to food? Yes. It’s just how I’m wired. Because most of my readers share this similar peculiarity, I think I’m hanging with the right crowd.
Did going to the Saturday market in Hamburg and seeing these gorgeous shapes and colors influence me? Of course they did.
These kurbis are pumpkins but a little different than the ones we are use to in the states. I decided to work from scratch, roasting instead of opening a can for my pumpkin bread pudding because a) I like it and b) I can’t remember finding canned pumpkin here. Although it may come in a glass jar. And there is no harm in opening a can if that’s what works for you. To cook these pumpkins, I cut them in half, removed the seeds and baked them at 375° with a dash of maple syrup for close to an hour. Sometimes I’ll add a little water to the bottom of the pan so they don’t dry out.
Not having the patience or desire this particular morning to create or tweak recipes, I did a quick google check. Bingo… the Pioneer Woman had a post on it two years ago. Despite the recipe originating with Bobby Flay (you can go here directly for the recipe), her post was delightfully honest and humorous as she describes how her daughter chose this pumpkin bread pudding over her mother’s dessert. She is a funny woman.
Bobby Flay’s recipe also calls for a creme anglaise that I didn’t do and a spicy apple caramel sauce that I did. Liquid gold I tell you. I followed the recipes pretty exactly, except I used rum instead of bourbon and ended up with extra custard ( it is poured on the cut up pumpkin bread). I made half the called for caramel sauce as it was just O and I eating it and well… that’s just a lot of caramel sauce to consume. At first, I found it a little sweet. But it died down once partnered with the bread pudding and personally I liked it cold. I also whipped up some cream.
You start by making the pumpkin bread. You’ll whip up the batter. Bake it. All the while, aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves fill your nostrils. You’ll pull this bread out and think why go any further. But it’s worth it. And of course we nibbled off the bread. Which may be why we only needed about half the custard to drench the pumpkin bread.
To continue… you need to let this bread cool while you don’t eat it. Once completely cooled you cut it up and dry it out a little in the oven.
During this time, you can make the custard. I actually tried cooking up our extra custard but it just got really hot and didn’t firm up. Not enough eggs, I’m sure. It was sort of like egg nog after it cooked. Not that I drank it. Because that would be gross. duh.
I also chose to use a cake tin. Eight inch because I wanted some form and height. I lined the bottom of the tin with parchment and I put a piece of parchment and tinfoil on top to cook for the first 45 minutes at which point I removed it and allowed it to crust up a little while it finished cooking. It’s cooked bain marie style (in a larger dish with hot water about half way up the sides of the tin)
Then out of the oven it looked like this…The custard bits seemed to stand out. But fret not.
I’ll warn you now, this recipe can take virtually a full day to prepare. But my 3rd piece was consumed after brushing my teeth and before I went to bed. It’s that good. This was a cold spicy slice, with ever so lightly sweetened whipped cream, drizzled… ok smothered, with an also cold apple schnapps spiked caramel sauce. This, my friends, was the best piece of all. I fully recommend eating the whole thing cold. And it wasn’t the high from eating it just before bed. I swear.
Though it whispered sweet seductions to me in the wee hours the following morning as I opened the fridge for milk, I refrained, choosing to allow my blood sugar to raise gradually with the honey from my tea. Let’s face it, the glycemic index from this decadence is off the chart.
It’s like the first bite of pumpkin pie the morning after Thanksgiving, when you actually have room in your stomach and your heart to appreciate it’s beauty. But better. Denser. More full bodied. I’m definitely making this for our holiday pumpkin dessert.
Happy Fall,
Tschüß,
Wendy
A little PS: I’m mostly relocating back to Orcas Island but am in Hamburg for three weeks to be with my wonderful husband, Ollie.
PPS: This post took almost as long to write as making the bread pudding. I’m working on my old laptop due to the fact my current one is on delayed repair (swallowing hard now…. sorely disappointed with Apple Store in Seattle ). The fun part was trying out my old version of photoshop. The challenging part is the HD being at maximum capacity. I’ll have little colorful swirling circles dancing in my dreams.
Until next time….
Wendy's Place 
Wow. I am not a huge bread pudding fan but was thinking as I read this that I could make an exception. Then I read about the one day to prepare…You are more a woman than I am. : )
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You know I was never a huge bread pudding fan either. But I found that when they are firm, it works. I used to make one at the cafe where we sliced it and fried it. That worked too 🙂
Don’t let the time scare you away. You make the bread, let it cool and toast, make the custard. Bake it again. Caramel sauce. It’s just sort of drawn out. But easy to do when you have a few hours to be at home.
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What a stunning post and what a wonderful bread pudding, I love bread pudding. This post is just to die for – have to check out the recipe. The thought that the bread can be toasted make is even more a must !!!! Can image that the post took the time it did. Happy over that you will soon be home with Mr O.
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Thanks Viveka… So nice to have you back! x
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Looks so good!
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Thank you Stacey… Can you send a kitty my way?
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Oh, my. This sounds absolutely decadent. I love pumpkin anything and I love bread pudding, so this is a no brainer. But I think I’ll have to make it for a crowd . . . otherwise I’d probably eat the whole thing myself.
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I’m going to double the recipe for Thanksgiving and put it in maybe a 12-14 inch cake pan. Or 2 small ones. I think you could also bake the bread and use only 1/2 portions of the rest of the recipe and make a mini version for 2 normal people 🙂
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I call that colorful swirling circle the spinning beach ball of death. You are so much more polite. Anyhoo – this pumpkin bread pudding is so heavenly, I would have had two pieces after brushing my teeth. Wow.
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I like that description.
We ate a lot of pumpkin bread pudding. Time of day was no matter!
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Haven’t read you in a long while and am happy to see you back. Did I read your byline on the page top correctly that you’ve moved back to the US for good??
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Well it’s looking like that. We are still in transition. But my daughter did start the 9th grade in the states. Life is very good though and we are rolling with it.
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“you need to let this bread cool while you don’t eat it” lol! That is hard. The apple schapps spiked caramel sauce- wow. sounds soooo good. xo jodi
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Hey you! Glad you are still there 🙂
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I’m embarrassed to admit, I at that whole loaf.. really (virtually), ate it all, hot out of the oven standing over the kitchen counter, I ate it. Ok, I think I could resist if I made two and saved one for the pudding.. this is just so spicy and yummy looking, Wendy!!
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You are a clever girl. Of course… 2 loaves would absolutely solve the problem of over nibbling what you need to finish the dessert. Why didn’t I think of that!!
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This is a wonderful recipe – love it! I want to have a slice of this right now 🙂
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Wish I could send you one. Two people definitely don’t need to consume this carb overload… but it’s perfect for a small crowd.
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I am sure you enjoyed it all 🙂
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Your pumpkin bread and butter pudding sounds delicious Wendy. It sounds like the perfect pudding for frosting autumn evening with a few friends or as an alternative to dinner for a cosy night in for two. Thanks for sharing the wonderful recipe
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It was my utmost pleasure! Hope you get a chance to try it some day 🙂
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Looks absolutely delicious! So perfect for this season – thanks for sharing this. I don’t really like the texture of bread and butter pudding, but this looks effectively like a lovely moist cakey bread and butter pudding isn’t it? It looks delicious!
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Exactly. It was not bread puddingy at all. It was like a very moist yummy cake. Bobby Flay did it with creme anglaise but I really liked it with whipped cream.
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I can’t resist a bread and butter pudding at this time of year. I love original takes on the classic. If only I could find some pumpkin bread!
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It’s all at your fingertips! Pumpkin, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, spices…poof. But make a double batch so you can eat some while you are using the rest to finish the recipe!
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Lecker—
Liebe Grüsse von uns.
Gisela und Wolfgang
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vielen dank… ich habe gerade ihren Kommenaire. Darn spam! Es war so lecker! 🙂
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You have to let this bread cool while you don’t eat it? NOOOOOOO!
Lady, I’ve gotta tell you, after baking about 400 pumpkin pies and a variety of pumpkin-infused treats, I thought I’d never (ever) want to eat anything pumpkin again. And then I saw this.
Well played.
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Follow Smidge’s tip and make two loaves to begin with…
Pumpkins are so it.
Sorry I’m not carving this year. Have fun:-)
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Genius! I love bread pudding, love pumpkins so a new recipe for me to try – thanks !
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It was a good one and will be featured for Thanksgiving let me tell ya! I might try to bring some of these pumpkin (squash really) seeds back with me. They are hokkaido. Have you ever grown them?
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Hi there, I have grown some of their Japanese relatives but not specifically Hokkaido. They are meant to be a lovely pumpkin to grow 🙂
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This is just gorgeous, what a selection of delectable flavours. And that caramel.. ,mmm.. c
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The caramel scented with spices and apple was simply drinkable… or stick your finger-in-able!
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It looks so good with the caramel!
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see above! I was totally double dipping into the caramel 🙂
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You and these photos! Everything always looks so tasty. Nice post.
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Thanks Marti. Are you ready for Nanowrimo? I liked the looks of your characters lunching.
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No, I’m not ready yet. I’m working on it though. The lunch exercise was very helpful for me. Thought it might be helpful for some other struggling writer too :-). Try it. You might like it.
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Wow does this look mighty good! I have got to make this and happy me those are the kind of pumpkins that are now on our market in France. Fabulous. Seriously.
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Pingback: Roasted Hakkaido (pumpkin) and feta salad w/ Maple vinaigrette « Chez Chloe
Oh my goodness that looks amazing! Two of my favorite things are pumpkin bread and bread pudding, and I’m not sure why I never thought to put those two things together! I will have to remedy that by trying this out! Thanks for sharing!
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Pingback: Fall recipes… revisited. « Chez Chloe
This looks jst ridiculously good!
Why, why, why did I look when I need to lose two more pounds?
I can’t figure out why your posts aren’t appearing in my reader.
I hope you are doing well my friend and it is great to hear from you!!
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For 2 pounds you can just keep on looking and enjoying. Or make the salad- it’s a winner too:)
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Pingback: spiced applesauce cake « Chez Chloe
This looks OUTRAGEOUSLY good. I am licking my lips just looking at the pictures. And, yep, I’m pretty sure I could plow through several pieces. We had pumpkin pancakes this morning which disappeared as soon as made, but this look even better.
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