What ingredients make up bread puddings?

Bread puddings primarily consist of two key ingredients: bread and custard. The bread serves as the base and can be made from various types, such as stale bread, baguettes, or even brioche, which provides texture and absorbs the liquids during the baking process. The custard component, typically made from eggs, milk, cream, and sugar, binds the bread together and imparts a rich and creamy consistency to the final dish.

This combination is crucial because it allows the bread to soak up the custard mixture, resulting in a dessert that is both comforting and flavorful. The interaction of the bread with the custard creates a delightful texture, which is a hallmark of traditional bread pudding. Other ingredients, like spices, fruits, and flavorings, can be added for additional taste and complexity, but the fundamental components remain bread and custard.