Lar's Best Thing Since Sliced Bread... Pudding

When I was a little girl my dad and his sister (my Aunt Candy) would order bread pudding whenever it was on any restaurant menu.  They loved it. I, however, would think, “why would you want to eat soaked bread?!” After I grew up I realized bread pudding was so much more than just “soaked bread“.  It is an indulgent dessert that has the simplest ingredients yet feels like you spent a lot of time and money making it. 
My bread pudding is a cross between French toast casserole and sticky, nutty cinnamon monkey bread. It would make a great Holiday dessert. Whether it is the family Christmas dinner, neighborhood Christmas party, or New Years celebrations!

What you will need...

2 c Granulated Sugar

6 lrg Eggs, beaten 

1 3/4 c Whole Milk

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg 

1/2-3/4 c Raisins (optional) 

1 Loaf Italian Bread, cubed, place on a cookie sheet over night to dry out.

**I use the $1 Italian Bread from Walmart. It makes about 5-6 cups**

Topping

1 1/2 c firmly packed, Dark Brown Sugar 

1 1/2 c Chopped Walnuts

1 stick Butter, soften

Sauce

1 c Granulated Sugar

1 stick Butter

1 lrg Egg, beaten

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/3 c Bourbon (good quality)

How to make...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

Mix beaten eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla, cinnamon,and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix well

Add the cubed bread. Mix until moistened and set aside to soak for 15-20 minutes 

As the bread sits, in another bowl crumble together the brown sugar, butter and walnuts for the topping 

Pour bread mixture into a greased, 13x9 pan. (You can mix raisins into bread mixture before adding to pan. This is optional though)

Sprinkle the brown sugar topping over the bread mixture

Bake 40-45 minutes. Just until set and a light golden color

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter for the sauce.
Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla. stir till sugar is dissolved  
Add bourbon and mix well.

Drizzle sauce over top of the bread pudding or over each individual piece as pictured below.

The best part of this dessert is it is great warm or cold. Everyone in my family eats theirs a different way. Smokin hot hubby drizzles a little extra bourbon over the top of his. I love a little bit of heavy cream drizzled over the top of mine. Really the possibilities are endless.

I hope you will give this a try. 

I pray your Christmas is a merry one and that you are surrounded with love and happiness.  

I appreciate you!

Lar

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