Ingredients:
For the pudding:
- 6 cups day-old brioche or sweet bread, cut into 2.5 cm cubes
- 1½ cups canned pineapple chunks, drained (reserve ¼ cup juice)
- ½ cup dark rum (or pineapple juice if preferred)
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp melted butter (plus extra for greasing)
For the coconut cream sauce:
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup double cream
- 3 tbsp icing sugar (sifted)
- 1 tsp dark rum or vanilla extract
- Toasted coconut flakes, for garnish.
Method:
- Preheat and prepare:
- Heat oven to 175 °C / 350 °F.
- Grease a medium baking dish with butter.
- Soak the fruit:
- In a small bowl, combine pineapple chunks, reserved juice, and rum.
- Let sit for 10 minutes so the fruit absorbs the flavour.
- Mix the custard:
- In a large bowl, whisk together coconut milk, whole milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter.
- Combine:
- Add the bread cubes and soaked pineapple (with the rum mixture) to the bowl.
- Gently fold until every piece of bread is coated.
- Let sit for 5 minutes to absorb the custard.
- Bake:
- Transfer mixture into the prepared dish, pressing lightly to level the top.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, until puffed and golden, and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Prepare the coconut cream sauce:
- In a small saucepan, gently heat coconut milk and cream with icing sugar and rum (or vanilla) until smooth and just warm.
- Do not boil.
- Serve:
- Spoon the warm sauce over slices of bread pudding and finish with a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes.
Notes:
Best served warm, with extra rum sauce on the side. For a show-stopping presentation, top with a few caramelised pineapple rings or a drizzle of dark caramel just before serving.
