Warm Maple and Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Take the flavors of a coffee cake, apply them to a bread pudding, and you get this warming custard, reminiscent of French toast and perfect for brunch or dessert. For the best results, let the custard soak into the bread for at least 4 hours before baking.

• Unsalted butter for the pan
• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• 1 cup walnuts (about 4 oz.) toasted
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 lb. rustic white bread (like ciabatta), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk with the eggs, vanilla, and 3/4 tsp. salt. In a mini chopper or food processor, pulse the walnuts with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Arrange half the bread slices in an even layer on the bottom of the dish; cut slices into small pieces to fill in the holes. Cover with half of the egg mixture, a third of the nuts, and a third of the maple syrup. Make another layer with the remaining bread and cover with the rest of the egg mixture, another third of the nuts, and a third of the maple syrup. Sprinkle with the rest of the nut mixture and maple syrup. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down so the bread is completely submerged in the egg mixture, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before baking.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Let the bread pudding sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Bake until the custard starts to set, about 30 minutes. Loosely cover the pudding with foil to prevent browning, and cook for another 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve sprinkled with the confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

Grilled Bread Salad With Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

A trip to the grill gives the makings of a classic Italian bread salad—a good crusty loaf of bread, ripe summer tomatoes, and basil—a little smokiness and crisp texture. Because this salad can sit out at room temperature for an hour or two, it’s the perfect side for a picnic or barbecue. If you can’t find bocconcini, substitute a large fresh mozzarella cut into 1-inch pieces.

• 1 medium loaf (about 1/2 pound) rustic
• white bread (like ciabatta), cut length-wise into 1-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 clove garlic, halved lengthwise
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 bunch scallions (about 8), trimmed and thinly sliced (both white and green parts)
• 12 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 8 oz . bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls), halved

Prepare a medium-high fire on a gas or charcoal grill. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Using a pastry brush, dab both sides of the bread slices with 2 Tbs. oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt. Grill the bread until it browns and gets good grill marks, about 2 minutes. Grill the other side until browned, about 2 minutes, and transfer to a large cutting board to cool. Rub the cut sides of the garlic over the bread and discard the garlic. Put the cherry tomatoes and scallions in a large serving bowl with the basil. Cut the bread into 1-inch pieces and add to the bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the remaining oil with the red-wine vinegar, pour over the bread mixture, and toss well. Let the salad sit for up to 2 hours before serving. Just before serving, fold in the bocconcini and season with salt to taste.

Individual Savory Horseradish Bread Puddings

For this menu, you will need only 8 puddings, but you’ll have 4 extra for anyone who wants seconds.

• 2 tsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups heavy cream
• 6 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup prepared white horseradish
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups small-diced white sandwich bread, such as Pepperidge Farm Original (about 5 slices), with crusts
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 3 Tbs. thinly sliced fresh chives

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 12-cup nonstick muffin tin with the butter.

In a 4-cup liquid measuring cup, thoroughly whisk the cream and eggs. Whisk in the horseradish, 1 tsp. salt, and a few grinds of pepper and set aside.

Portion half of the bread cubes evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Portion half of the parmigiano and half of the chives evenly among the cups. Repeat with the remaining bread, cheese, and chives.

Whisk the custard again and carefully pour it into the muffin cups, distributing it evenly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Bake until the puddings are set and the tops are nicely browned and puffed, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the puddings from the pan, running a paring knife around the edge of the puddings if they stick.

Individual Apple Charlottes

You may have seen charlotte recipes that call for sponge-cake ladyfingers and for the charlotte to be served cold, but classically, an apple charlotte calls for bread and is served warm. This recipe was created by my pastry chef, Zoe Behrens.

For the filling:

• 3 lb. Braeburn or Golden Delicious apples (6 or 7 apples)
• 1 lemon, rinsed
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 2-1/2 oz. (5 Tbs.) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs. Calvados (or other apple brandy)

For the crust:

•  1 loaf sliced white bread (I use Pepperidge Farm Classic White; you may want to buy an extra loaf just in case)
• 1/2 lb. (1 cup) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• Crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream for serving

Make the filling:

Tip:

These can be completely prepared a day ahead, covered (still in the molds) with plastic, and refrigerated. To reheat, let them sit at room temperature while you heat the oven to 350°F. Bake until hot, about 12 minutes, and unmold.

Peel, core, and dice the apples into 1/4-inch pieces (you’ll have about 6-1/2 cups). Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest off half the lemon in long strips, taking care to avoid the bitter white pith (if necessary, remove any pith from the zest strips by scraping it off with a knife). Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with the back of a paring knife. In a large bowl, toss the apples, lemon zest, vanilla bean seeds and spent pod, raisins, and golden raisins.

In a 12-inch skillet or 5-quart Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat and then add the sugar. When the sugar is fully moistened, add the apple mixture and cook, stirring almost constantly, until the apples start to release liquid and look soft on the outside (they’ll still be a little crunchy inside), about 7 min. (you want to just start the cooking process at this point while still leaving the apples crunchy). Set the apple mixture aside to cool slightly and then add the Calvados.

Prepare the crust:

Position a rack in the middle of the oven; heat the oven to 475°F. Trim the bread crusts. Cut eight rounds to fit the bottoms of eight 8-ounce ramekins. Cut enough rectangles to line the sides. (The bread should come to within at least 3/4 inch of the ramekin’s rim, if not the top.) Melt the butter in a medium skillet and put the sugar in a shallow dish. Brush the insides of the ramekins with butter. Generously dip both sides of each piece of bread in butter followed by sugar on one side. Lay one round in each ramekin, sugared side down. Nestle the rectangles, sugared side facing outward toward the ramekin, so they line the sides of each one.

Trace around the ramekin bottom with a paring knife to cut a round of bread to line each ramekin.

Strips of bread line the sides. They needn't come all the way to the top, but they should be close to the rim.

Assemble and bake:

Pick the lemon zest and vanilla bean halves out of the apple filling and fill each ramekin, pressing on the filling to get rid of air pockets. Be generous; the filling will cook down. Set the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet (leaving a few inches between each) and cover snugly with one sheet of foil. Bake for 40 min. To see if the charlottes are done, run a paring knife around the side, knock on the ramekin bottom, and invert a ramekin onto a plate to check the bottom; it should be nicely caramelized, and will have caramelized more than the sides. (If they’re not done yet, return them to the oven for a few more minutes). Unmold and serve with a spoonful of crème fraîche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Add the apple mixture to the bread-lined ramekins, packing it firmly.

Grilled Bread Salad With Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

A trip to the grill gives the makings of a classic Italian bread salad—a good crusty loaf of bread, ripe summer tomatoes, and basil—a little smokiness and crisp texture. Because this salad can sit out at room temperature for an hour or two, it’s the perfect side for a picnic or barbecue. If you can’t find bocconcini, substitute a large fresh mozzarella cut into 1-inch pieces.

• 1 medium loaf (about 1/2 pound) rustic
• white bread (like ciabatta), cut length-wise into 1-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 clove garlic, halved lengthwise
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 bunch scallions (about 8), trimmed and thinly sliced (both white and green parts)
• 12 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 8 oz . bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls), halved

Prepare a medium-high fire on a gas or charcoal grill. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Using a pastry brush, dab both sides of the bread slices with 2 Tbs. oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt. Grill the bread until it browns and gets good grill marks, about 2 minutes. Grill the other side until browned, about 2 minutes, and transfer to a large cutting board to cool. Rub the cut sides of the garlic over the bread and discard the garlic. Put the cherry tomatoes and scallions in a large serving bowl with the basil. Cut the bread into 1-inch pieces and add to the bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the remaining oil with the red-wine vinegar, pour over the bread mixture, and toss well. Let the salad sit for up to 2 hours before serving. Just before serving, fold in the bocconcini and season with salt to taste.

Garlic-Butter Croutons

Scatter these buttery croutons over a classic Caesar salad  or onto a creamy soup for a dash of crunch.

• 4 large slices white sandwich bread, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
• 3 oz. (6 Tbs.) unsalted butter
• 2 large cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
• Kosher salt

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.


Put the bread cubes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Melt the butter in a 1- to 2-quart sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, mashing it gently with the back of a wooden spoon, and raise the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is fragrant (the garlic may start to brown around the edges), 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the garlic. Drizzle the butter over the bread cubes. Toss with your hands until the cubes are evenly coated. (Don’t worry if some crumble.) Spread them in a single layer and sprinkle with 3/4 tsp. salt. Bake until the croutons are a deep golden-brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool completely. (You can store the croutons in an air-tight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 weeks.)

Warm Maple and Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Take the flavors of a coffee cake, apply them to a bread pudding, and you get this warming custard, reminiscent of French toast and perfect for brunch or dessert. For the best results, let the custard soak into the bread for at least 4 hours before baking.

• Unsalted butter for the pan
• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• 1 cup walnuts (about 4 oz.) toasted
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 lb. rustic white bread (like ciabatta), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk with the eggs, vanilla, and 3/4 tsp. salt. In a mini chopper or food processor, pulse the walnuts with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Arrange half the bread slices in an even layer on the bottom of the dish; cut slices into small pieces to fill in the holes. Cover with half of the egg mixture, a third of the nuts, and a third of the maple syrup. Make another layer with the remaining bread and cover with the rest of the egg mixture, another third of the nuts, and a third of the maple syrup. Sprinkle with the rest of the nut mixture and maple syrup. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down so the bread is completely submerged in the egg mixture, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before baking.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Let the bread pudding sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Bake until the custard starts to set, about 30 minutes. Loosely cover the pudding with foil to prevent browning, and cook for another 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve sprinkled with the confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

Grilled Bread Salad With Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

A trip to the grill gives the makings of a classic Italian bread salad—a good crusty loaf of bread, ripe summer tomatoes, and basil—a little smokiness and crisp texture. Because this salad can sit out at room temperature for an hour or two, it’s the perfect side for a picnic or barbecue. If you can’t find bocconcini, substitute a large fresh mozzarella cut into 1-inch pieces.

• 1 medium loaf (about 1/2 pound) rustic
• white bread (like ciabatta), cut length-wise into 1-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 clove garlic, halved lengthwise
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 bunch scallions (about 8), trimmed and thinly sliced (both white and green parts)
• 12 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 8 oz . bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls), halved

Prepare a medium-high fire on a gas or charcoal grill. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Using a pastry brush, dab both sides of the bread slices with 2 Tbs. oil and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt. Grill the bread until it browns and gets good grill marks, about 2 minutes. Grill the other side until browned, about 2 minutes, and transfer to a large cutting board to cool. Rub the cut sides of the garlic over the bread and discard the garlic. Put the cherry tomatoes and scallions in a large serving bowl with the basil. Cut the bread into 1-inch pieces and add to the bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the remaining oil with the red-wine vinegar, pour over the bread mixture, and toss well. Let the salad sit for up to 2 hours before serving. Just before serving, fold in the bocconcini and season with salt to taste.

Garlic-Butter Croutons

Scatter these buttery croutons over a classic Caesar salad  or onto a creamy soup for a dash of crunch.

• 4 large slices white sandwich bread, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
• 3 oz. (6 Tbs.) unsalted butter
• 2 large cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
• Kosher salt

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.


Put the bread cubes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Melt the butter in a 1- to 2-quart sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, mashing it gently with the back of a wooden spoon, and raise the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is fragrant (the garlic may start to brown around the edges), 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and discard the garlic. Drizzle the butter over the bread cubes. Toss with your hands until the cubes are evenly coated. (Don’t worry if some crumble.) Spread them in a single layer and sprinkle with 3/4 tsp. salt. Bake until the croutons are a deep golden-brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool completely. (You can store the croutons in an air-tight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 weeks.)