Epiphany Recipes: Maple Peach Bread Pudding

This is the next in an ongoing series of tasty recipes from the parish of Epiphany.

It's peach season and this recipe is simply delicious. Bravo's Top Chef, Gail Simmons shared her recipe with People Magazine and now it's one of my favorite desserts.

Maple Peach Bread Pudding

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 lb. brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch pieces (12 cups)
• 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 2 large ripe yellow peaches, pitted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup sugar, plus 2 Tbsp. for topping
• ¼ cup peach schnapps (optional)
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup grade A maple syrup, divided as directed in recipe below
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread brioche on rimmed baking sheet.
3. Toast for about 15 minutes, turning once or twice.
4. Melt butter in a large skillet.
5. Reserve 3 Tbsp. of melted butter.
6. Add peaches and 1/4 cup sugar to skillet.
7. Cook peaches over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
8. If desired, remove from heat and add schnapps.
9. Return skillet to heat and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
10. Stir in 1/4 cup maple syrup.
11. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and 3/4 cup sugar.
12. Add brioche and peach mixture and toss until coated.
13. Let stand 5-10 minutes.
14. Brush an 8 x 11 inch baking dish with 1 Tbsp. melted butter.
15. Add bread pudding and drizzle with remaining syrup and 2 Tbsp. butter.
16. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. sugar.
17. Bake for about 50 minutes until pudding is set and the top is golden and slightly crisp.
18. Let cook and serve.

Karen's Notes:

• Challah is sold at Breadworks on Fridays and Panera on Saturdays.
• I use a whole loaf of bread and add extra peaches for a 9 x 12 inch pan.
• Add maple syrup to the whipping cream for a delicious maple cream topping.

About the cook:

Karen Portelli is the Cook and Housekeeper for Epiphany House. She is a scratch cook for her family and friends for the past 30 years prior to accepting this position at Epiphany. She cooks for the staff and volunteers as she would for her family... feeding them a diet of fresh & healthy simple foods.