Leek and Gruyere Bread Pudding Is the Perfect Make-Ahead Brunch

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter unsalted plus more for baking dish
• 1 bunch leek white rinsed thinly sliced well (4 or 5)
• 2  garlic clove crushed
• 0.3 cup wine dry white
• 3 cups cup heavy whipping cream 
• 2 cups milk whole
• 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
• 1 inch ground pepper 
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt 
• 0.3 teaspoon pepper freshly ground
• 5 large egg yolk lightly beaten
• 1 pound day-old brioche halved cut into ¾-inch slices and then crosswise
• 2 cups gruyere cheese grated
• 1 cup parmesan cheese grated

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven
• whisk
• wire rack
• baking pan
• roasting pan
• aluminum foil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch (10-cup) round baking dish. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add leeks and garlic; cook, stirring often, until soft, about 10 minutes.
3. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half.
4. Transfer half of the leek mixture to a bowl, and reserve.
5. Whisk cream, milk, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and pepper into leek mixture in pan; bring to a simmer.
6. Add 1/2 cup hot cream-leek mixture to eggs and yolks in a medium bowl, whisking.
7. Whisk in another cup cream-leek mixture; return egg-leek mixture to pan. Cook, whisking, until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
8. Arrange 8 or 9 pieces of bread in prepared dish.
9. Pour 2 cups egg-leek mixture over bread.
10. Sprinkle half the reserved leeks and half the cheeses over bread.
11. Let stand 10 minutes. Arrange remaining bread in a slightly overlapping circle on top, and then add remaining egg-leek mixture.
12. Sprinkle with remaining leeks and cheeses.
13. Let stand 10 minutes.
14. Cover dish loosely with foil, and place in a small roasting pan.
15. Add enough hot water to reach halfway up sides of dish.
16. Bake until golden brown and set, about 55 minutes.
17. Remove foil, and bake until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes more.
18. Let cool in dish on a wire rack.
19. Serve warm or at room temperature.