Mary Berry's bread and butter pudding recipe

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Mary Berry's bread and butter pudding has been given a festive makeover with the addition of some luxury mincemeat

Mary Berry's bread and butter pudding
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Serves8
SkillEasy
Preparation Time15 mins , plus optional soaking time
Cooking Time40 mins
Cost RangeCheap
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories567 Kcal28%
Sugars43.3 g48%
Saturated Fat13.8 g69%
Protein9.7 g19%
Fat24.2 g35%
Carbohydrates73.6 g28%

Mary Berry's bread and butter pudding is made with 10 ingredients and takes 40 minutes to bake. 

This is a comforting dessert at any time of year but the addition of mincemeat gives it a wonderful festive twist. You can use brioche bread for an even richer flavour but regular white bread is great too. If using something like sourdough, don’t skip the soaking stage as it will take time for the sourdough to properly absorb the liquid. 

Ingredients

  • 50g (2 oz) soft dried apricots
  • 2 tbsp brandy or rum
  • 12 thin slices white bread, buttered
  • 450g (1lb) jar luxury mincemeat
  • 50g (2 oz) caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 300ml (½ pint) double cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 150ml (¼ pint) milk
  • 1 tbsp demerara sugar

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Generously butter a 28cm (11in) fairly shallow round china ovenproof dish.
  2. Snip the apricots into smallish pieces and soak in the brandy or rum whilst making the pudding.
  3. Make sandwiches of the bread using the mincemeat, but don't fill right to the edges because these are trimmed off. Cut off the crusts and cut each sandwich diagonally into four. Arrange the sandwich triangles across the dish, slightly overlapping.
  4. Beat together the caster sugar, eggs, cream and vanilla extract. Stir in the milk.
  5. Scatter the apricots over the bread. Gradually pour over the cream mixture, making sure all the bread is coated. If you have time, leave the pudding to stand for 30-60 minutes. Then heat the oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4).
  6. Sprinkle the demerara sugar over the top of the pudding, and bake for about 40 minutes until well-risen, crisp and golden. Serve warm with creme fraiche or cream.

Top tips for making Mary Berry's bread and butter pudding

If you don’t have time to soak the pudding you can let it soak for 10 minutes while your oven preheats. The soaking allows the bread to absorb the liquid, so it becomes light and crisp during cooking. 

What kind of dish is best for bread and butter pudding?

It is essential to make this in a shallow dish so that you get maximum crunchy top. It rises like a souffle, so serve it at once straight from the oven.

Why is my bread and butter pudding watery?

If you have used too much liquid for the ratio of bread or you haven’t given the bread long enough to absorb the liquid, it will be very watery. 

Do you put egg in bread and butter pudding?

Yes, this recipe for Mary Berry bread and butter pudding contains 3 large eggs. The combination of egg, milk, cream and sugar creates a thin, custard-like mixture. 

Mary Berry's Christmas Collection: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes and Tips for a Hassle-free Festive SeasonView at Amazon

Mary Berry's Christmas Collection: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes and Tips for a Hassle-free Festive Season by Mary Berry (Headline, £30) - View at Amazon

The baking legend has more festive recipes you will love. Her book includes tips on a foolproof turkey, canapes, and a full festive timeline to keep your cooking schedule on track.

You might also like our bread and butter pudding but for more Mary Berry classics, try this lemon drizzle cake or her easy flapjacks. This chocolate cake recipe is one of our most popular bakes and these fairy cakes are perfect to make with kids. 

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Mary Berry
Celebrity baker

Mary Berry CBE is one of the most loved celebrity chefs in the country. In her early 80s, she’s been on our screens showing us how to make the most delicious recipes and sweet treats for over 50 years! Mary is probably most famous for being one of the original judges on The Great British Bake Off, where she put contestants through their paces for nine years before leaving the show when it made its controversial move from the BBC to Channel Four. 

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