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Caramelized Pear Bread Pudding

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Caramelized Pear Bread Pudding
4.3 (3 ratings)
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This custardy, raisin-studded bread pudding highlights the sweet, comforting taste of baked pears. When turned out of its baking dish, the flan-like pudding sits in a pool of caramel syrup, making it worthy of any holiday table. Serve it warm or chilled. See all bread pudding recipes.
Servings
8
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cup 1-percent milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 cup cubed day-old whole-wheat country-bread, crusts removed (4-6 slices)
  • 2 tablespoon raisins or currants
  • 2 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
  • 2 ripe pears, peeled, halved, and cored
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
  1. Heat the milk in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring, until steaming, 4-6 minutes. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until blended. Then, gradually whisk in ¼ cup of the sugar. Slowly whisk in the hot milk until blended. Whisk in the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and nutmeg.
  2. Add the bread and raisins to the milk mixture and gently fold together. Press down lightly with the back of a large spoon. Cover and set aside at room temperature. Butter the bottom and sides of a round 2-quart baking dish with 1 teaspoon of the butter.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Put a kettle of water on to boil. Cut each pear in half lengthwise into 4 slices. Place in a medium-sized bowl and toss with the lemon juice.
  5. Heat a medium-sized skillet over low heat until hot. Add the remaining butter and swirl until just melted and the foam subsides. Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the melted butter.
  6. Arrange the pear slices on their sides in the pan in an even layer. Increase the heat to medium-low and, without stirring, let the pears begin to brown and the sauce to slowly caramelize, adjusting the heat as needed to prevent burning, about 10 minutes.
  7. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully turn each pear slice with a fork. Return to the heat and cook until the sauce is uniformly golden, 2-4 more minutes.
  8. Carefully transfer the pears one at a time to the prepared baking dish, arranging them decoratively in a circle and slightly overlapping them if necessary. Use a heatproof silicone spatula to scrape any remaining syrup over the pears.
  9. Set the baking dish in a shallow baking pan. Spoon the bread and custard mixture into the baking dish. Press down on the bread until it is submerged in the custard. Place the pan in the oven and carefully add the hot water to the shallow baking pan until it is halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
  10. Bake until the pudding is browned on top and set in the center, 1-1 ¼ hours. Carefully remove the pan from the oven.
  11. Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack and let cool for at least 45 minutes. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the pudding. Place a serving platter over it and invert the pudding onto the platter.
 
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