Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Lisa Keys
What do benches and the best blueberry bread pudding have to do with each other? Well, it has to do with some of my fondest memories of my family and friends back in Connecticut. On one warm day in July, my friend, Carol, organized a venture out to a local farm to pick blueberries. On this particular day, as we headed in to get our filled buckets weighed, the screaming came out of nowhere.
Wait for it
Without warning all my friends were suddenly standing behind me. Completely bewildered by their scared behavior, I said, "WHAT?" As they were hugging my back and pushing me forward, they pointed to a garden snake crossing our path. Well, I nearly peed my pants (sorry) responding, "What am I? Your secret service agent waiting to take the bullet?"
In reality, I was quite flattered that they looked at me as the strong and brave protector. It certainly was how most saw my son, William.
How to celebrate a life
Soon after the news of William's death Carol went into organization mode again and this is where benches come in. She mobilized an entire community to join in to celebrate William with a memorial bench placed at his favorite fishing spot along the shores of Lake Elise. It is a protected place where one can enjoy the beauty of the lake and remember the boy who often went out of his way to make one feel loved, respected and safe.
I love visiting this place with family and friends. After a bit of tearful silence we usually, without warning, turn to laughter, recalling the mischievous boy who made us so proud to be a part of his life. Lake Elise is worth the trip. Drop me a line if you ever visit. To those who have lost don't hesitate to build a memorial celebrating your loved one. It is a good thing.
Update
The New England weather has taken a toll on the bench and it has been removed for now. Still, Will's spirit lives on there.
So, if blueberries and benches have something in common why not blueberries and coconut. This blueberry bread pudding recipe is a tropical twist on a comfort classic. Paired with coconut the blueberries make for a most memorable and comforting dessert.
The creamy richness of coconut milk beautifully complements the bursts of sweet blueberries, creating a flavor profile that's both familiar and wonderfully new. Just a bite of this great recipe for blueberry bread pudding is like getting a warm hug from an old friend.
Helpful tips
- Don't over mix: Gently press the bread down into the custard.
- Don't overcrowd: Give the bread cubes enough space in the baking dish to allow for puffing up and even baking and browning.
- Make it your own: Add lemon zest to make a lemon blueberry bread pudding or make a dairy free bread pudding using almond milk in place of milk.
- The type of bread you use is crucial for the success of your bread pudding. Stale bread is ideal as it soaks up the warm custard beautifully without becoming soggy.
Blueberry Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 (8 to 10 oz.) loaf challah bread, sliced into 1-inch cubes day old bread is best
- 1 ½ cups winter fresh berries or frozen blueberries divided
- 1 (15 oz.) can sweetened cream of coconut
- 1 ⅓ cups milk or non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
- Garnish: powdered sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F.
- Spread ⅔ of the bread cubes over the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the blueberries over the bread. Top with remaining bread.
- In small saucepan, over medium heat, stir cream of coconut, milk, sugar, vanilla and coconut extract just until the sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth. The mixture will be warm, but not hot.
- In large bowl, lightly whisk eggs; add warm milk mixture and blend well. Pour custard mixture over bread in baking pan. Using the back of a spoon gently push bread down into milk mixture.
- Sprinkle top with remaining blueberries and coconut.
- Bake 45-50 minutes or until puffed and golden and center of the pudding is set.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
The full-fat coconut milk provides a luxurious, velvety texture and a subtle tropical aroma that pairs exceptionally well with blueberries. Plus, the healthy fats in coconut milk contribute to a richer, more satisfying dessert.
The type of bread you use is crucial for the success of your bread pudding. Stale bread is ideal as it soaks up the custard beautifully without becoming soggy. Challah, brioche, French bread or a mild sour dough all make a great foundation for this bread pudding with blueberries recipe.
vcallaghan
What a nice memorial to William...where in CT is Lake Elise I have not heard of it? The pudding looks delicious-I love blueberries and coconut I make scones with that combination.
lisakeys64
Lake Elise is off of route 64 in Middlebury, CT--near Lake Quassapaug if you have ever been to the amusement park there
Ann
What looked like a "garden snake" to you, looked more like an Anaconda to us. And yes...our instincts identified you as our protector and defender. It's true...the apple does not fall far from the tree.
lisakeys64
It gives me such a belly laugh when I think about it. Hey, maybe William got it from me!
Ann
Ya think????
lisakeys64
Yeah-he was my person!
Cathy
Love the story...Love The Bench
lisakeys64
Thanks, Cathy for all the beautiful flowers left on the bench for William
Carol Walsh
The "SNAKE" incident was one of our more funnier moments together, I still crack up thinking about it.
The whole bench project was indeed a "labor of love" for your William. It's a beautiful, quiet place where we can sit, reflect and think about your boy. I hope it has done the same for others.
BTW, next time I go to the grocery store I'm getting the ingredients to make this, looks yummy!
lisakeys64
much love for you from both William and me
Hope you like the recipe-it is a winner!
Louis Matino (@LouMatino)
That recipe looks REALLY good.
lisakeys64
Thanks!
Denise
Lisa every time I cook with blueberries I will now think of you and Will along with peace and serenity!
lisakeys64
Thanks Denise--it makes me very happy to know that from time to time my William will be in your thoughts. Blueberries are truly one of mother nature's finest foods.
theculinarycellar
I hope to someday sit on Will's bench. What a serene and beautiful area. I love anything with blueberries and would love to make your recipe. It looks delicious!
lisakeys64Lisa keys
I'd love to sit on the bench with you and talk about our children and recipes. I will never forget my visit to your home town while William was in boot camp at Great Lakes.
Jennifer Daskevich
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memorial. What an inspiration!!
lisakeys64
Thanks for stopping by
Mary
Would have loved to try this recipe, but there is no oven temperature given anywhere on this page. If I’m missing it it’s because I’m trying to read around all of the flashing advertisements.
But it certainly isn’t in the recipe when I try to print or use reader mode
Lisa Keys
350F. Thank you for letting me know. Correction has been made.
Heidi
I'm not a coconut lover, or so I thought. This was delicious--I must admit that I couldn't follow the recipe exactly, so I used unsweetened, condensed milk, adding a couple teaspoons of sugar into the wet mix.
Topping with powdered sugar wasn't necessary, as this was sweet enough. When I make this again, I will stick with unsweetened condensed milk, because the coconut flavor was very already pronounced. I wouldn't add sweetened coconut; I don't love lots of sugar, and although this was delicious, it was a bit too sweet.
But, overall, YUM! Thank you!
Lisa Keys
I so appreciate you trying the recipe and accommodating it to your tastes. I love a creative cook who can adapt and make a recipe her own. Thank you so much for being here.