The Secret Ingredient That Will Change Your Bread Pudding Forever

When it comes to repurposing leftovers into a new dish, there are a few all-stars of the category. Some of the most popular examples that come to mind are both tasty and easy to make. There's fried rice, which takes cold cooked rice and leftover meats and veggies to a new level. Italian spaghetti frittata tucks leftover pasta into an eggy omelet. And, of course, bread pudding is an easy way to convert leftover or stale bread of many types into a warming, comforting dessert.

Bread pudding is an incredibly versatile dish. According to MyRecipes, virtually any type of bread can be used to make it, from brioche to French baguettes. Various flavorings can be used in the custard, from vanilla and almond to nutmeg. And lots of tasty ingredients can be folded in, like chocolate, peaches, and raisins. Looking to up your bread pudding game? Read on to discover the secret ingredient that will kick your dessert up a few notches.

If you want to whip up an extra-tasty bread pudding for dessert tonight, take a look in your bread box and see if you have any leftover dinner rolls on hand. According to Taste of Home, this is the perfect ingredient to create a dessert that's soft in the middle with crisp edges that create a delectable textural contrast.

In the recipe, about 20 leftover dinner rolls are cut into cubes and then soaked in a rich custard made from whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, milk, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt. The eggy mixture is transferred to a greased baking dish, sprinkled with brown sugar for additional sweetness and crunch, and baked in a 350-degree oven until warm and puffy. Finally, the dessert is drizzled with a buttery brown sugar caramel. If that all sounds good to you, then you might want to pick up an extra package or two the next time you add some dinner rolls to your shopping cart.