The Princess Diana-Approved Way to Make Bread Pudding 10x Better
- Bread pudding is a classic dessert made from bread soaked in a custard mixture and baked until golden and set.
At its core, bread pudding is a simple dessert made from bread soaked in a rich custard made of eggs , milk, sugar and warm spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg. Baked until golden and set, it transforms into a soft, comforting dish with a slightly crisp top.
Classic bread pudding is a comfort food fan favorite, but it's always fun to try a little something new. I recently found a famous bread pudding recipe that's moved to the top of my must-make list.
The recipe that caught my attention comes from former royal chef Darren McGrady's book Eating Royally , and it's as effortlessly elegant as the princess who loved it— Princess Diana ! According to McGrady, this bread pudding was one of Princess Di's favorite desserts, and if it's good enough for a princess, who am I to say no?
I found this recipe on Simply Recipe's website and you can get the full list of ingredients there. I also ran across some recipe demos on Instagram and TikTok, including this one from food content creator and chef Tatiana Bellator , if you're the kind of cook (like me) who likes to see a recipe come together before you make it.
Related: The Queen Elizabeth-Approved Way To Make Cucumber Sandwiches
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How to Make Princess Diana's Bread Pudding
This recipe is a bit different from other bread pudding recipes you might have run across. The Brits sometimes butter the bread before layering it in the pan and the bread is often cut into larger pieces instead of using a jumble of cubes and ripped crusts. In this recipe, it's a combination of bread cubes on the bottom and larger pieces of butter-dipped bread on the top.
To make Princess Diana's bread and butter pudding, you'll need sliced white bread (crusts removed), amaretto-soaked raisins, melted unsalted butter, egg yolks, vanilla paste, sugar, milk, heavy cream and sliced almonds.
You'll also need to think ahead a little to make this version of bread pudding because the amaretto-soaked raisins take some prep time. Be prepared to soak the raisins in the amaretto for at least three hours, though overnight is ideal.
Once the raisins are ready, cut four bread slices into half-inch cubes and spread them evenly across the bottom of a buttered dish. Sprinkle the raisins on top, making sure to reserve a few for garnishing later.
Cut the remaining bread slices into triangles and dip them into the melted butter. Arrange them in an overlapping pattern over the cubed bread and raisins.
To make the custard, whisk some egg yolks, sugar and vanilla together, then heat up cream and milk on the stove until just about boiling. Then, slowly add it to the egg mixture while constantly whisking so that the eggs don't curdle.
Pour the custard over the bread triangles, ensuring they are evenly saturated. Let the bread pudding rest for 20 minutes before popping the baking dish into a water bath. (To make the water bath, place the baking dish in a roasting pan, place that in the oven, then pour hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the baking dish.) Bake the bread pudding at 350° for about 45 minutes, or until it's set. It's done when it's golden brown on top and gently jiggly toward the center.
For a nice crispy crème brulée-ish finish, sprinkle more sugar on top and caramelize it with a kitchen torch or under the broiler. Top with sliced almonds and the amaretto-soaked raisins before serving.
This dish is rich, indulgent and fit for royalty—just like Diana herself. I can't wait to give it a try!
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