By Miranda

We make a lot of bread at my house so its good to have a few options for what to do with day old bread besides croutons.  Here is a sweet solution for that crusty loaf thats too tough to eat plain. 
Baguettes or French or  Italian breads work well for this recipe - just cut it into 1/2- 1 inch cubes.  Bread should be stale - if its still soft, spread out on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 250 degrees F for about an hour.  If your bread is too soft it will just turn to mush when the liquid is added.  Bread pudding is best the day it is made.  

Makes about 8 servings.  Serve with whipped cream.

For the bread pudding:
2 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp butter
3 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
6-7 cups bread cubes (see above note)
scant tsp cinnamon

For the sauce:
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
Splash of bourbon (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan.  Place bread cubes in a large bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients for the bread pudding then pour over the bread cubes.  Gently toss together until the bread cubes are pretty evenly coated.
Spread in the baking pan and bake for 35 minutes about or until the top is nicely browned.  

Meanwhile, make your sauce.  Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat.  Then add the brown sugar and continue to cook over medium heat until dissolved.  Add cream and bring it to a slow simmer- cook like this for 5 minutes or so until thickened.  Remove from heat and add your vanilla and bourbon if using.  Drizzle hot sauce over individual servings of bread pudding and top with whipped cream.  Yum!! 



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