You probably have heard that it’s best to use stale bread for bread pudding, french toast, and stuffing. Bread pudding was originally created as a way to use old, stale bread. It soaks up a custard and becomes moist and fresh again after it’s baked. But does the bread need to be dry and stale in order to soak up the liquid? Not really, the difference it makes is very small. Use whatever bread or croissants you have on hand.