Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Decadent bread pudding studded with toasted pecans and drizzled with a warm bourbon sauce, offering a sweet taste of Texas hospitality. This american-inspired desserts ready in about 70 minutes layers cubed (1-inch) day-old French bread, whole milk, heavy cream into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 cups cubed (1-inch) day-old French bread
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (for sauce)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 4 large eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon until smooth.
- Step 2: Add 8 cups of 1-inch cubed day-old French bread and 1 cup chopped toasted pecans to the custard mixture, gently folding to combine. Let soak for 15 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
- Step 3: Transfer the soaked bread mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Step 4: Meanwhile, make the bourbon sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter with 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully stir in 1/4 cup bourbon and 1/2 cup heavy cream until smooth.
- Step 5: Serve warm bread pudding with generous spoonfuls of bourbon sauce drizzled over each portion for a rich, nutty finish.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (20 min prep + 50 min cook). Most home bakers find this fits a weekend afternoon; chill or store as the recipe directs before serving.
How do I store leftover Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce?
Cool fully before storing. Most baked desserts keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2–3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cream- or custard-based desserts must go in the fridge within 2 hours; reheat gently or serve cold per the recipe.
Can I substitute ingredients in Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Texas-Style Pecan Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce?
American desserts like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
