Single Serve Lemon Bread & Butter Pudding | One Pot One Portion
If you ask me, bread and butter pudding is a ‘proper pud’. Perhaps it’s the northerner in me but I prefer my puddings warm, custardy and stodgy – in all the best ways. Though apple crumble will always be my number one dessert, bread and butter pudding is a strong contender for second place, though I really disagree with the traditional addition of dried fruit. No hate to raisins (ok, some hate to raisins…) but they’re not welcome here. If you don’t like lemon, you could happily use a chocolate hazelnut spread, marmalade or jam in place of the lemon curd.
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Are you craving a warm, comforting dessert that’s rich, satisfying, and perfectly portioned just for you? Look no further than my Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding! This recipe takes a beloved classic and infuses it with bright, zesty lemon, creating a truly delightful treat that's ideal for cooking for one. It’s an incredibly easy bread and butter pudding that promises pure comfort with minimal effort, making it a perfect single serve meal and a fantastic addition to your collection of one portion recipes.
My Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding is a celebration of simple ingredients transformed into something truly special. Imagine soft cubes of bread soaking up a creamy, lemon-infused custard, baked until golden and slightly firm, with a hint of toasted sugar on top. The subtle tang of lemon curd and zest cuts beautifully through the richness, elevating this classic to new heights. This is my go-to single serve dessert when I want warmth and indulgence without any fuss, proving that one portion recipes can be as luxurious as they are convenient.
About This Dish: A Zesty Twist on a British Classic
My Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding is a creative adaptation of a timeless British dessert, specifically crafted for recipes for one person. Traditionally, bread and butter pudding relies on stale bread soaked in a rich custard and baked until golden. My version maintains that comfort, but introduces a vibrant lemon twist using both lemon curd and fresh lemon zest. This adds a delightful brightness and zestiness that beautifully complements the creamy custard and the soft bread.
This is my preferred one portion recipe for a warm dessert because it’s so comforting and uses simple ingredients often found in the kitchen. The custard, made with egg yolk, cream, and milk, ensures a wonderfully rich and tender pudding, while the bread soaks up all that lemony goodness. It’s a truly satisfying single serve dessert that feels both indulgent and remarkably easy to achieve, making it a star among one serving recipes.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe
My Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding is an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious dessert designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cooking enthusiast, a student craving a comforting treat, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of one portion recipes, this dessert is crafted for you. It’s a truly healthy one pot recipe that delivers maximum comfort.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single serve meal. Every ingredient is precisely portioned to create one perfect, delightful bread and butter pudding, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a satisfying treat. It’s truly a one portion recipe marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you’re cooking for one. This makes it an ideal single serve dessert for any time.
Easy Bread and Butter Pudding
Despite its decadent appearance, this is an incredibly easy bread and butter pudding to follow. With minimal active preparation time and the magic of it all coming together in one dish, it requires very little fuss. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking for maximum reward with minimum effort, proving that how to cook for one can be delightfully simple.
One Pot Cooking
This is the true beauty of this recipe! My Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding is a genuine one pot cooking experience. All the ingredients, from the creamy custard to the bread cubes, are weighed and mixed directly in the small ovenproof dish that goes straight into the oven. This significantly minimises washing up, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying. It’s the ultimate convenience for cooking for one, making it a standout among one pot recipes and one pan recipes.
Top Tips for Perfect Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding
Creating a perfectly moist and flavourful single serve bread and butter pudding is simple with these key tips.
- Combine Custard Thoroughly: Whisk the egg yolk, cream, milk, vanilla, caster sugar, lemon curd, and lemon zest together until completely smooth before adding the bread. A well-mixed custard ensures consistent flavour and texture throughout the pudding.
- Soak the Bread Well: Once you add the bread cubes to the custard, make sure to squish and mix everything thoroughly. You want the bread to absorb as much of the custard mixture as possible. This is vital for the pudding’s moist, tender texture.
- Demerara for Crunch: The optional sprinkle of demerara sugar on top adds a lovely crunchy, caramelised crust. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference in texture and appearance.
- Bake Until Golden and Set: Bake for the full 25-30 minutes. The pudding should be golden brown on top and slightly firm to the touch in the centre, indicating that the custard is set and the bread is tender.
- Rest Briefly: While tempting to dive in immediately, letting the pudding cool for a minute or two after baking allows the custard to fully set and ensures it's not too hot to enjoy.
Ingredients and Tools You'll Need
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious single serve dessert a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Egg Yolk: Provides richness, acts as an emulsifier for the custard, and contributes to the pudding’s tender texture.
- Double Cream / Heavy Cream: Adds luscious richness and a velvety texture to the custard base.
- Whole Milk / Full-Fat Milk: The liquid base for the custard, contributing to its creaminess and helping to soften the bread.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash adds a comforting, aromatic flavour that complements the lemon and cream beautifully.
- Caster Sugar / Superfine Sugar: Sweetens the custard and helps it to caramelise slightly when baked.
- Lemon Curd: Provides an intense, sweet, and tangy burst of lemon flavour, adding a delightful zesty twist to the traditional pudding.
- Lemon Zest: The zest of half a lemon adds vibrant, aromatic citrus oils that heighten the lemon flavour without adding extra liquid or acidity.
- Bread: Two slices, around 50–65g, cut into 2cm squares. Slightly stale bread works particularly well as it absorbs the custard more effectively.
- Demerara Sugar (optional): A coarse, light brown sugar that, when sprinkled on top, creates a wonderfully crisp, caramelised crust during baking.
To Serve:
- Cream: A dollop of fresh cream adds extra richness and a cool contrast to the warm pudding.
- Ice Cream: A scoop of vanilla ice cream melts wonderfully into the warm pudding, creating a delightful blend of temperatures and textures.
- Custard: Warm custard is a classic accompaniment, adding a silky, sweet warmth that perfectly complements the pudding.
Essential Tools:
- Small Ovenproof Dish: Your designated one pot for this recipe. It should be small enough to accommodate one generous serving and go directly from weighing to baking.
- Scales: Essential for accurately weighing ingredients directly into your baking dish, making cleanup even easier.
- Whisk: For combining the custard ingredients until smooth.
- Fork: For squishing and mixing the bread into the custard.
- Oven: For baking your bread and butter pudding to golden perfection.
Delicious Variations
My Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding is incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt it to your taste or dietary needs. It's a fantastic example of how to cook for one.
- Making it Gluten-Free: Simply substitute the regular bread with gluten-free bread. Ensure it’s a variety that can absorb the custard well.
- Making it Dairy-Free: This requires substituting the double cream/heavy cream and whole milk/full-fat milk, and choosing dairy-free serving options.
- Double Cream / Heavy Cream: Use a dairy-free double cream or heavy cream alternative.
- Whole Milk / Full-Fat Milk: Swap for a dairy-free milk alternative (e.g., oat, almond, or soy milk), ideally a richer variety.
- Serving: Serve with a dairy-free cream, dairy-free ice cream, or dairy-free custard.
- Making it Vegan: This recipe contains egg yolk, double cream/heavy cream, and whole milk/full-fat milk, so it needs more significant substitutions.
- Egg Yolk: This is the trickiest part. You would need a vegan egg substitute suitable for custards (e.g., a specific commercial egg replacer, or a cornflour/starch based thickener).
- Double Cream / Heavy Cream & Whole Milk / Full-Fat Milk: Use dairy-free alternatives as above.
- Bread: Ensure your bread is vegan (some contain dairy or egg).
- Serving: Serve with vegan cream, vegan ice cream, or vegan custard.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the custard mixture for a warmer flavour profile.
- Different Fruit/Flavourings: Instead of lemon curd and zest, you could try a spoonful of marmalade, a few mixed berries, or even some chopped chocolate in the custard.
- Adding Nuts/Dried Fruit: A few chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts) or raisins/sultanas could be added to the bread mixture for extra texture.
- Serve with Fruit Compote: A simple berry compote or stewed apples could be a lovely accompaniment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Bread and Butter Pudding?
A: Bread and butter pudding is a traditional British dessert made by layering slices of buttered bread in an ovenproof dish, pouring over a rich custard mixture, and then baking until golden. It's a classic comfort food, and my easy bread and butter pudding version brings that comfort to a single serving.
Q: Can I use different types of bread?
A: Yes, you can! While a standard white or wholemeal (whole wheat) loaf is typical, you could experiment with brioche, challah, or even croissants for a richer pudding. Slightly stale bread works best as it absorbs the custard more effectively.
Q: How do I know when the pudding is cooked?
A: The pudding should be golden brown on top and slightly firm to the touch in the centre when gently pressed. If it's too wobbly, it needs a little more time. A knife inserted into the centre should come out mostly clean, with perhaps a little moistness from the custard.
Q: What is caster sugar / superfine sugar?
A: Caster sugar (UK) or superfine sugar (US) is a finely granulated sugar that dissolves quickly, making it ideal for custards and batters where you want a smooth texture without grittiness.
Q: Can I prepare this pudding ahead of time?
A: You can prepare the custard mixture and soak the bread in it for up to a few hours in the fridge before baking. This allows the bread to fully absorb the liquid, but don't leave it too long (e.g., overnight) as the bread can become overly soft. Bake just before serving for the best results.
Enjoy my incredibly easy, comforting, and perfectly portioned Single Serve Lemon Bread and Butter Pudding! It's the ultimate example of how simple ingredients can create something truly delicious when you're cooking for one.
Ingredients
- 1 egg yolk
- 40g double cream
- 30g whole milk
- Splash of vanilla extract
- 20g caster sugar
- 25g lemon curd
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 2 slices of bread, around 50–65g, cut into 2cm squares
- A little demerara sugar (optional)
To serve:
- Cream, ice cream, or custard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
- Place a small ovenproof dish onto your scales, then weigh in all the ingredients apart from the bread and demerara sugar.
- Mix together until you have a smooth custard.
- Add the cubes of bread to your custard mixture.
- Squish and mix everything together so the bread is fully covered in the custard and absorbs most of it.
- If using the demerara sugar, sprinkle a little over the top, then bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and slightly firm to the touch.
- Serve with cream, ice cream, or custard.
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Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
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