Fat Tuesday is this week and I've never been to Mardis Gras, but I absolutely love New Orleans. The city is so fun and so beautiful and the food is unreal. Of course, my initial thought for a Mardis Gras recipe was a King cake, but I wanted to give it my own little twist. I also considered a beignet because it's basically my favorite food in New Orleans. But I also want to keep my recipes as easy as possible. When I look at a recipe, even though I love baking, if it looks difficult or time-consuming I procrastinate on making it and then end up buying a box at the last minute. Some of it is probably that I love sweets way too much and just want the final product to be ready! But a lot of it is because I live in a tiny apartment with a teeny tiny kitchen and a complicated recipe is stressful. Especially when I know I can make something just as good with a lot less stress!
I used day-old challah from my grocery store. It didn't look pretty, but I will be cutting it up anyway!
Since the originally planned recipes were becoming super complicated, I decided to change course. I was watching Top Chef (are you all watching this season in my hometown of Louisville, KY?!) and *SPOILER-ISH ALERT?* they each select one of Muhammad Ali's fights and make a dish inspired by that fight. Kelsey from Alabama selected a fight in New Orleans, which also happened to be the last dish of a progressive meal (hello, dessert!), and that's when my ears perked up. I was looking for inspiration for a Mardi Gras recipe, and at that very moment Kelsey is going to come up with a New Orleans inspired dessert recipe! That's when Kelsey says that bread pudding is a traditional New Orleans dessert. This wasn't something I knew, but it was definitely something I could work with!
I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to use Cafe du Monde coffee. If you haven't been to New Orleans, Cafe du Monde is the go-to place for beignets and coffee, but not just any coffee, chicory coffee, most commonly served as a cafe au lait. So the idea of a cafe au lait bread pudding was inspired, and this was an inspiration I didn't know I needed, but am so glad I found! So thank you Top Chef, thank you, Kelsey, and thank you New Orleans. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler, y'all!
Check out this recipe for Caramel Chocolate Coconut Bread Pudding!
Cafe au Lait Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup chicory coffee brewed and cooled
- ½ stick butter cubed
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt Diamond Crystal
- loaf challah or other soft bread cubed
Sauce
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chicory coffee brewed and cooled
- ⅔ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9x13 pan with nonstick foil.
- Put eggs in a large bowl and beat lightly.
- Add milk, coffee, butter, sugar, and salt.
- Gently stir in bread cubes.
- Pour into lined pan and bake 35-40 minutes.
Sauce
- Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small saucepan.
- Stir in milk and coffee until smooth.
- Heat over medium heat and bring to boil.
- Continue stirring until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter.
- Pour over cooked bread pudding or serve warm on the side.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!