Sausage-and-Maple Bread Pudding

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Serving size:8
Total Time:
Sausage-and-Maple Bread Pudding

This fantastic breakfast bread pudding is a fun, all-in-one take on French toast with maple syrup and sausage. Melted ice cream enriches the “custard” base.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb bulk breakfast sausage
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 pint vanilla or cinnamon ice cream, melted
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tsp thinly sliced sage leaves
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 3/4 lb brioche, crusts removed and bread torn into 1-inch pieces (10 cups)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook the sausage over moderately high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until nicely browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a bowl and let cool.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the ice cream, water, sage, salt and 1/2 cup of the maple syrup. Fold in the sausage and brioche. Scrape the mixture into a 9-inch square or 2-quart oval baking dish and let stand for 15 minutes. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is browned and the center is set.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, boil the remaining 1/2 cup of maple syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat; whisk in the cream. Serve the bread pudding with the maple cream.

MAKE AHEAD: The unbaked bread pudding can be made up to 6 hours ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking.

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Recipe Credit: Jeni Britton Bauer
Image Credit: Justin Walker