Creole Bread Pudding Souffle

[Draggingtree]

Creole Bread Pudding Souffle

Ingredients

1. Butter, for greasing pan and ramekins
2. 1½ cups sugar, divided
3. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4. Pinch ground nutmeg
5. 3 large eggs
6. 1 cup heavy whipping cream
7. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8. 5 cups New Orleans French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (see note)
9. 1/3 cup raisins
10. 9 large egg whites, at room temperature
11. ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
12. Whiskey Sauce, recipe follows

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter. In a large bowl, combine ¾ cup sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add eggs and whisk until smooth; add cream and vanilla, and stir to combine. Add bread cubes, and let stand until mixture is absorbed.
3. In prepared pan, add raisins, and top with bread mixture. Bake until pudding is golden brown and firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. (If a wooden pick inserted in the pudding comes out clean, it is done. The mixture should be moist, not runny or dry.) Let cool to room temperature.
4. Preheat oven to 350°.
5. Grease 8 (6-ounce) ramekins with butter, and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed until foamy. Add remaining ¾ cup sugar gradually, and continue beating until shiny and thick. Test with a clean spoon. If the whites stand up stiff when you pull out the spoon, the meringue is ready.
6. In a large bowl, break half of the bread pudding into pieces using your hands or a spoon. Gently fold in ¼ of the meringue. Add a portion of this mixture to each ramekin. Place the remaining bread pudding in the bowl, break into pieces, and carefully fold in the rest of the meringue. Top the soufflés with this mixture. Using a spoon, smooth and shape tops into a dome over the ramekin rim.
7. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Using a spoon at the table, poke a hole in the top of each soufflé, and pour room temperature Whiskey Sauce into each soufflé. Serve immediately.

Notes

1. New Orleans French bread is very light and tender. If it’s not available in your market, substitute a light Italian bread.
2. https://www.louisianacookin.com/