Allergy Free Blueberry Bread Pudding

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This week I’m writing my blog from Cape Cod, where food allergy shopping is not always so easy.  Given that,  the featured recipe this week needed to be seasonal, and it needed to be simple for all of us who might be on vacation and out of our usual shopping comfort zones.

I knew this recipe could be made, even with limited access to allergen-free groceries.  Better yet, it’s nutritious, and last–but certainly not least–it’s really easy to throw together, which is a blessing on these hot summer days when most of us prefer to stay out of the kitchen.

The challenge of converting this dessert from allergen-full to allergen-free with limited shopping ability was in finding proper substitutes for dairy, gluten, and eggs.  Thankfully, most major supermarket chains, such as Stop & Shop, now carry at least one kind of gluten-free bread. That took care of replacing the gluten part of bread pudding (and by the way, gluten-free bread is GREAT in bread pudding).  Additionally, most supermarkets also carry rice milk, which I use in place of cow’s milk, and all carry canola oil, which I used in place of butter.  But perhaps the most surprisingly easy-to-find allergy-friendly ingredient was flaxseed meal, which I’m happy to report is now available not only at most major supermarkets but also at Wal-Mart’s all across the country! And if you can’t find flaxseed meal, you can make your own by grinding whole flaxseeds in a coffee grinder or mini chop.

Allergy Free Blueberry Bread Pudding

Makes 8 Servings

Blueberry Bread Pudding is a great way to make a decadent, yet nutritious dessert. In addition to the antioxidant properties of blueberries, this treat is packed full of fiber, omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids, and is cholesterol-free!  But no dinner guest would ever know it was “healthy” and “allergen-free” if you didn’t tell them. It’s “scrumtrulescent” (quote from my 9-year-old son Lennon).

  • 14 slices stale gluten-free bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (7 cups)
  • 3 Tablespoons canola oil
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 cups rice milk
  • 2 Tablespoons flaxseed meal combined with 6 tablespoons hot water (“flax eggs”)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed limejuice
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar mixed with ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, for sprinkling on top
  • 2 Tablespoons dairy-free, soy-free vegetable shortening (or Earth Balance dairy-free, soy-free  “Buttery” spread, or coconut oil, or canola oil in a pinch)
  • Blueberry Sauce (recipe follows)
  • fresh mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

♥♥♥

  1. If your gluten-free bread is not already stale, cube it and lay it out in a single layer, overnight. Alternately, you can help dry it out by heating it in a 200°F oven, on a baking tray, in a single layer for about 15-20 minutes, then letting it cool to room temperature.
  2. Combine canola oil and light brown sugar in a heavy saucepan, stirring well to combine. Cook, stirring, over low heat, 3 minutes. Add the rice milk, stirring well to combine. Heat over medium-high heat, until it comes to a boil.  Pour over bread cubes in a shallow bowl, toss gently, and let soak for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Add the “flax eggs” and salt to the bread mixture and toss very gently.
  4. Combine blueberries with confectioner’s sugar, tossing well to coat all the berries.
  5. Pour half the bread mixture into the baking dish. Top with two-thirds of the blueberries.  Sprinkle with half of the limejuice. Cover with remaining bread mixture.  Top with the remaining third of the blueberries, and drizzle with the remaining limejuice. Sprinkle the light brown sugar/cinnamon mixture evenly over the top. Dot with the shortening.
  6. Bake for 1 hour, until golden and caramelized on top.  Let rest until warm, but no longer hot. Serve warm, drizzling a little Blueberry Sauce over each serving.  Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.  For a really awesome finish, add a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice “cream” on the side. Store leftovers tightly covered at room temperature.

Blueberry Sauce

  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • ½ cup blueberry jam or preserves
  • 1 tablespoon water

1. Combine blueberries, jam, and water in a heavy saucepan, stirring gently.  Heat over medium-high heat until starting to boil.  Cook, stirring often, until heated through, and blueberries have softened slightly.  Remove from heat.

Allergy Free Blueberry Bread Pudding  © 2010 by Cybele Pascal

12 Responses

  1. DDSMOM says:

    Just when I was thinking of going on a diet. Thanks alot Cybele!!!! Just kidding. This looks scrumptious. Going to try it out tomorrow since I just bought tons of blueberries yesterday. Thank you!

  2. Cybele says:

    It’s really not that fattening!

  3. delicious looking bread pudding
    blueberries make it beautiful

  4. Cybele says:

    thanks!

  5. Kirsten says:

    This was amazing!!! My parents who don’t have any food intolerances loved it too and wanted some of the leftovers. Makes a great breakfast too! Yum!

  6. Thanks, Kirsten. Always great to hear that those without any restrictions still like the recipes.

    all best,

    Cybele

  7. Leslie says:

    This is a great recipe. I made it yesterday for my birthday dessert. I loved the blueberry sauce! It was so easy, I think I will make more to use as a topping for ice cream.

  8. Leigha says:

    This recipe is amazing! Hard to believe it’s allergy free with gluten free bread! Any chance you can alter this to make the “traditional” bread pudding?

  9. inge says:

    Looks like a great breakfast, too!

  10. Leah says:

    This looks so delicious and perfect for Christmas brunch! I’m curious though, did you find a GF bread that is egg free?

Leave a Reply to inge