We’re thrilled to share this recipe from author and chef Hawa Hassan, adapted from her powerful new cookbook, Setting a Place for Us—a celebration of resilience, memory, and the food that connects us to home.
This dish, Om Ali, is Hawa’s take on the classic Egyptian dessert. It’s luscious, comforting, and made with day-old croissants—a nod to Hawa’s upbringing in an immigrant household where nothing was wasted and every ingredient was used with care. True to her approach, this version skips the eggs and leans into richness from whipped cream, half-and-half, and flaky pastry. You can use puff pastry or filo dough, but croissants make it easy and extra luxurious.
Like much of Hawa’s cooking, this is a dish with heart. One that turns leftovers into something deeply satisfying, perfect for sharing.
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Om Ali (Bread Pudding)
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Recipe by Hawa Hassan
Excerpted from Setting a Place for Us
Ingredients
- 6 day-old good-quality croissants
- 3 cups half-and-half
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- Dash of pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chopped unsalted pistachios
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried coconut flakes
- ¼ cup golden raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Tear croissants into bite-sized pieces and spread them on a sheet pan. Bake until crisp, 8–10 minutes.
- In the meantime, combine half-and-half and sugar in a saucepan over low heat and bring just to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks and stir in the vanilla.
- Transfer the toasted croissants to a 9×13-inch broiler-proof baking dish. Top evenly with pistachios, coconut, and raisins. Pour the hot half-and-half mixture over everything and let soak for a few minutes.
- Spread the whipped cream over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, until bubbly.
- Turn on the broiler. Broil on the middle rack until browned on top, about 3 minutes. Serve warm.
Tip from Misfits Market:
Have leftover croissants from the weekend? This is the recipe you’ve been waiting for. It’s the perfect no-waste dessert—and we love a good food-saving moment.
Want More?
Hawa’s cookbook is filled with recipes and stories that spotlight home cooking from eight countries impacted by war, all grounded in resourcefulness, community, and care. Shop Setting a Place for Us now.
Reprinted with permission from Setting a Place for Us by Hawa Hassan, copyright © 2025. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Food photography by Julia Gartland.