Espresso Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

This Espresso Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce is warm, cozy, and completely addicting. The ultimate comfort food for the holidays!

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and the star of the show isn’t the turkey this year, it’s dessert! My espresso bread pudding recipe is to die for, and will steal the spotlight! I’m proud to partner today with Bearcat Infused Bourbon in making a twist on a classic recipe, perfect for the holidays, or year-round! 

Bearcat Infused Bourbon is perfect for those first time bourbon drinkers and my go-to as a bourbon lover!  It has two flavor-infused options: Orange Peel with Spice and Espresso with Aromatic Bitters. The Espresso is complex to the nose with roasted espresso beans appearing on the finish, while the Orange Peel is packed with a fresh citrus aroma, and mild cinnamon and anise flavors at the end. Both are perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks! I also love to add it to classic bourbon cocktails to add a flavorful twist. 

I’m using it today in this decadent Espresso Bourbon Bread Pudding with bourbon vanilla sauce.  The Bearcat Bourbon infused with Espresso with Aromatic Bitters is used in both the Espresso Bourbon Bread Pudding and the sauce!  It adds the most incredible flavor to this sweet dish. This is one of the best desserts I’ve made in a long time!

What do you need to make bread pudding?

Coffee Liquor

This recipe calls for Bearcat Bourbon, which is an espresso-flavored bourbon. If you can’t find it in stores, you can substitute it with Kahlua or Tia Maria. For a non-alcoholic option, combine espresso or very strong coffee with a bit of sugar or vanilla syrup. This will mimic the coffee flavor and sweetness, though it lacks the liqueur’s alcoholic warmth.

Stale Bread

Stale bread is ideal for bread pudding because it has lost some of its moisture, making it more absorbent. When mixed with the custard, stale bread soaks up the liquid better than fresh bread, which can be too soft and might disintegrate or become mushy. This absorption helps the bread pudding achieve a rich, custardy texture without getting too soggy.

If you only have fresh bread on hand, you can quickly dry it out by slicing it into cubes and baking it at a low temperature (around 300°F or 150°C) for 10-15 minutes. This will help mimic the effect of stale bread and make your bread pudding just as delicious!

Eggs

Room temperature eggs are recommended for this bread pudding because they blend more smoothly into the custard mixture. When eggs are at room temperature, they combine more easily with other ingredients, especially butter or milk, allowing the custard to form a consistent, creamy base without lumps or uneven texture. Using room temperature eggs also helps the custard cook more evenly, which is key for achieving a silky texture in the bread pudding. Cold eggs can lead to a longer cooking time and sometimes cause curdling if they don’t incorporate well with the other ingredients.

Milk and Heavy Cream

Using a combination of milk and heavy cream in this recipe gives it a light yet rich flavor!

Espresso

The espresso adds bold, slightly bitter notes that compliment the sweetness of the custard and the caramel-like flavors of bourbon. Espresso deepens the dessert’s overall flavor, giving it a more intense, roasted quality. This pairs well with the bread pudding’s warm, comforting texture. If you don’t have espresso, you can use strongly brewed coffee.

Candied Pecans

Bread pudding has a soft, custardy texture, and candied pecans add a delightful crunch. It keeps each bite interesting! If you can’t find candied pecans, chopped pecans will work, too.

Additional Ingredients

• Brown and white sugars
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon

Equipment Needed

• Short ramekins or if you’re making this for valentine’s day some festive ramekins like these

What is bread pudding?

Bread pudding is a classic dessert made from cubes of day-old bread. Today, I’m using brioche bread because the texture of this fluffy bread is unmatched and makes this Espresso Bourbon Bread pudding just that much better! The brioche gets soaked in a custard mixture made from eggs, milk, sugar, and a little cinnamon and nutmeg, and coffee liquor. It’s baked as an individual portion in ramekins until the tops are golden and the middle is still slightly gooey.

How do I make bread pudding?

• Start with slightly stale brioche bread cubes. Dry bread can hold more of the custard mixture. If you don’t have brioche, any thick-cut white bread works well – leftover french bread or challah bread is also a great option! Cut the bread into cubes and set aside.
• Heat oven to 375F
• To make the custard sauce: In a large bowl, whisk eggs, whole milk and cream, melted butter, coffee liquor, cinnamon, espresso and white, and brown sugar. Whisk until fully incorporated.
• Place cubed bread in a large square baking dish,large mixing bowl, or something you can fold the bread and milk mixture easily.

• Then pour the egg mixture over top of the bread, giving it a stir as you go so that all bread is evenly coated. Fold in chopped candied pecans.
• Spoon into individual ramekins and let sit for 20 minutes before baking. This gives the bread time to soak up all the custard mixture.
• Then bake the mixture in your preheated oven at 375F for 35 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
• To make the bourbon sauce, combine sugar, unsalted butter, heavy cream and bourbon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk and let come to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over top of bread pudding.  

Can I make Espresso Bourbon Bread pudding ahead of time?

This wonderful bread pudding is perfect for the holidays!  It’s super easy to make a couple days ahead and reheat right before serving.  After the bread pudding has cooled completely, place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Be sure to cover well so the dessert doesn’t dry out too much.

To reheat, place in the oven or microwave until the internal temperature reaches 165.  If you like the crunch on top, put it under the broiler for a minute or so at the end of reheating.  Be careful to watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!

This dessert is always a crowd pleaser during the holiday season! Guests will be asking for seconds every time!

What should I serve with bread pudding?

This delicious dessert would pair so well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Need more holiday desserts? Try my no-bake pumpkin cheesecakes or brown butter toffee chocolate chunk cookies!

Pairing a cocktail? Try these chai spiced white russians!

FAQ and Expert Tips

If you have leftovers, store the leftover bread pudding in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, place in the oven or microwave until the internal temperature reaches 165. 

Use stale bread for the most delicious bread pudding recipe

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