Delicious Irish Butter Pudding Recipe

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Updated on 09/29/19
Irish Butter Pudding Recipe

 The Spruce

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Without any doubt, a bread and butter pudding recipe is one of the easiest and the cheapest of puddings to make and is such a great way use up any leftover slices of bread. The pudding is also so versatile as you can ring the changes by simply using brown bread, a brioche or even stale croissants or hot cross buns instead of regular bread and the easy bit; the method is the same whichever you use.

To create this Irish bread and butter pudding, there is a simple twist in the addition of a creamy, tasty, Irish liqueur, making this a perfect pudding for grown-ups (let the kids enjoy the traditional ones). It's certainly one to pull out on St Patrick's Day. 

The best Irish liqueur to use for this pud is ​Baileys which is an Irish whiskey and cream-based liqueur that also has many variations including a lovely orange flavor. 

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces butter (softened, plus extra for greasing)
  • 10 slices white bread (cut diagonally across)
  • 2 ounces golden raisins and sultanas (mixed)
  • 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 12 fluid ounces milk
  • 2 fluid ounces heavy cream (or double cream)
  • 2 large free-range eggs
  • 1 ounce sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur (Bailey's works well)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Heat the oven 350 F/180C/Gas 4.

  3. Start with greasing a 2-pint baking dish.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Then using the remaining butter, spread on one side of each bread slice.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Make one layer of bread in the baking dish by overlapping each triangle of bread, butter-side up. 

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Sprinkle the layer with the dried fruits, a little nutmeg, and cinnamon.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Repeat the layer until you fill the dish, or all the bread is used up. Finish with a light sprinkling of fruits.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  8. In a small saucepan, gently heat the milk and cream, taking care not to boil the milk. It should be hot, but not scalding. 

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  9. Beat the eggs with 3/4 of the sugar and the vanilla.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  10. Add the Irish liqueur or Baileys and whisk the mixture again. The eggs should be light, airy, and pale in color.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  11. Slowly pour the milk over the eggs, while whisking the mixture continuously.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  12. Slowly pour the milk and egg mixture over the bread.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  13. Then, gently press the surface to help the bread soak up the liquid like a sponge. Leave the pudding to one side for half an hour. 

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  14. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown and the pudding well-risen and the egg set.

    Irish Butter Pudding Recipe
     The Spruce

  15. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips

  • Bread and butter pudding reheats well covered with aluminum foil in a hot oven. Do not microwave. 
  • The pudding is delicious when eaten cold, as well. Just try popping a piece in your lunch box.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
325 Calories
18g Fat
28g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 325
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 188mg 63%
Sodium 117mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 8g
Calcium 118mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)