Ingredients
5 cups mixed berries (I used a mix of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
1/2 to 2/3 cups sugar, depending on the sweetness of your berries
1 loaf dense white sandwich bread (I like Pepperidge farm)
Heavy cream for serving
Instructions
Put the berries and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium low heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Let the mixture come to a simmer and cook gently for about 5 minutes, until the berries are still whole but have released a significant amount of juice. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
Select a 4 to 5 cup bowl or round mold. Trim the crusts from the bread and line the bowl with one layer of bread, cutting the bread into pieces and fitting them in like a puzzle. Carefully spoon about half of the cooled berries and their juices into the bread-lined bowl. Arrange another layer of bread over the berries and then spoon the rest of the berries over the bread layer. Add a final layer of bread to the top, taking it all the way to edges of the bowl so the juices are sealed in.
Cut a round of cardboard to fit inside the bowl and cover it with foil. Lay this on top of the pudding and weight it down with something heavy. Refrigerate the pudding at least overnight, and for up to 36 hours. Remove the weights and the cardboard and carefully turn it out onto a serving platter.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Mixed berries — blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries — each bring distinct antioxidants and natural sweetness, so tasting your berries before adding sugar helps you dial in the perfect balance between tart and sweet.
- Dense white sandwich bread like Pepperidge Farm is essential here; its tight crumb absorbs the berry juices fully without falling apart, creating that signature pudding texture when sliced.
- Allowing the berry mixture to cool completely before assembling prevents the bread from becoming soggy too quickly and ensures the juices distribute evenly throughout all layers during the overnight chill.
- The overnight weighting step is non-negotiable — pressing the pudding under weight compacts the layers, helps the bread soak up every drop of juice, and gives the pudding its clean, dramatic appearance when unmolded.
- Heavy cream served alongside adds richness and fat that beautifully balances the bright acidity of the berries, making each bite feel indulgent without overpowering the fruit.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Mixed berries are an excellent source of vitamin C and anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants linked to reduced inflammation and improved heart health.
- Raspberries and blackberries are high in dietary fiber, supporting digestive health and helping you feel satisfied longer after eating.
- This dessert is relatively moderate in calories compared to cream- or butter-heavy alternatives, making it a lighter choice for a special occasion sweet.
- Blueberries contribute meaningful amounts of vitamin K, which plays an important role in bone health and blood clotting regulation.
- Using only about 1/2 cup of added sugar spread across 6–8 servings keeps the added sugar per portion reasonably low for a dessert.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories280
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat4 g72 g5.56%
- Saturated Fat2 g20 g10%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat0.5 g
- Monounsaturated Fat1 g
- Cholesterol10 mg300 mg3.33%
- Sodium280 mg2300 mg12.17%
- Total Carbohydrate57 g275 g20.73%
- Dietary Fiber5 g28 g17.86%
- Total Sugars28 g
- Added Sugars10 g50 g20%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein5 g50 g10%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)2 mcg20 mcg10%
- Calcium80 mg1300 mg6.15%
- Iron2 mg18 mg11.11%
- Potassium220 mg4700 mg4.68%
- Vitamin A120 mcg900 mcg13.33%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)22 mg90 mg24.44%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)1 mg15 mg6.67%
- Vitamin K18 mcg120 mcg15%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.2 mg1.2 mg16.67%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.1 mg1.3 mg7.69%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)1.8 mg16 mg11.25%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.1 mg1.7 mg5.88%
- Folate30 mcg400 mcg7.5%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0 mcg2.4 mcg0%
- Biotin2 mcg30 mcg6.67%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.3 mg5 mg6%
- Choline12 mg550 mg2.18%
- Phosphorus70 mg1250 mg5.6%
- Iodine8 mcg150 mcg5.33%
- Magnesium18 mg420 mg4.29%
- Zinc0.5 mg11 mg4.55%
- Selenium8 mcg55 mcg14.55%
- Copper0.1 mg0.9 mg11.11%
- Manganese0.6 mg2.3 mg26.09%
- Chromium2 mcg35 mcg5.71%
- Molybdenum10 mcg45 mcg22.22%
- Chloride180 mg2300 mg7.83%
