Bread pudding does not have to mean an hour in the oven. With half a tawa bread, a saucepan and a few pantry staples, you can have a warm, creamy pudding on the stovetop in under ten minutes. Here are four versions we make at home, from a cinnamon-raisin breakfast to a cheesy, savory bowl.
Before you start
Each recipe uses about half a cooked tawa bread. Our tawa bread is sold uncooked, so cook it according to the package directions first and let it cool, then cut or tear it into roughly one-inch pieces and set it aside. If your cooked tawa bread has been in the refrigerator, that is fine. Slightly dry bread soaks up the milk even better.
The base method is the same every time: heat milk and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Add the bread, lower the heat and cook for three to four minutes, stirring now and then. Take it off the heat, cover and let it rest for about two minutes. Then scoop, top and serve.
1. Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cooked tawa bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1¼ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Honey or maple syrup, optional
Directions
- Heat the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form at the sides of the pan.
- Add the tawa bread. Cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat, cover and rest for about 2 minutes.
- Scoop into a bowl. Top with walnuts, raisins and cinnamon. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup if you like.
2. Bread Pudding with Cheese
Savory, rich and surprisingly good on a cold morning.
Ingredients
- ½ cooked tawa bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1¼ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- 1½–2 teaspoons cream cheese
Directions
- Heat the milk and sugar until bubbles form at the sides of the pan.
- Add the tawa bread and cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cheddar and cream cheese. Stir until melted.
- Cover and rest for about 2 minutes. Pour into a bowl and serve.
3. Banana Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cooked tawa bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1¼ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ banana, chopped, plus a little more for the top
- Honey or maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon, optional
Directions
- Heat the milk and sugar until bubbles form at the sides of the pan.
- Add the bread and chopped banana. Cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat, cover and rest for about 2 minutes.
- Scoop into a bowl. Top with extra banana, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
4. Date Bread Pudding
The most traditional of the four. Dates and warm bread belong together.
Ingredients
- ½ cooked tawa bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1¼ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3–4 medium dates, pitted and chopped
- Honey or maple syrup, optional
Directions
- Heat the milk and sugar until bubbles form at the sides of the pan.
- Add the bread and cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in the chopped dates.
- Cover and rest for about 2 minutes. Scoop into a bowl, top with honey or maple syrup and serve.
Make it your own
Once you know the base, the toppings are up to you. Pistachios and rose water. Chopped apple and cardamom. A spoon of tahini. Each recipe serves one generously or two as a small bowl, so double it for the family.
Pick up tawa bread at the bakery or order it for delivery.