Yesterday we had our first snow of the year. (I know, we’re horribly late.) I don’t generally think of comfort food until that first snow. For some reason, comfort food tastes better when it’s really cold. It’s not as good when it’s 50 degrees outside. . .it has to be a good solid 32 degrees or lest for comfort food to really hit the spot. Furthermore, I tend to mostly like sweet comfort foods. A good shepherd’s pie or macaroni and cheese is okay; but truth be told, I love baking on a cold day. So with that said, I offer up one of our favorite comfort foods: bread pudding.
Bread pudding gets it’s name because it is made of bread soaked in some sort of egg and milk mixture which makes it sort of custardy. It’s easy because generally, it’s a matter of mixing ingredients.
This particular recipe has been in a forgotten file for quite awhile now. . .and of course has some of my own adjustments.
You will need:
4 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
¾ cups granulated sugar
2 ½ cups milk
2 ½ cups whipping cream
½ tbsp of vanilla
½ tbsp of bourbon
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
3 medium apples
10 cups of bread cubes (Note: Day old bread is best and baguettes work well. However, I am very partial to day old cinnamon raisin bread.)
2 tbsp of butter melted
2 tbsp of sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
For the sauce:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup half and half
Directions:
Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray the bottom and sides of a 3 quart glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat 4 whole eggs, 1 egg yolk and ¾ cup granulated sugar with the wire whisk until well blended. Beat in milk, whipping cream, vanilla, bourbon, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon until well blended. Stir in apples and 7 cups of the bread cubes. Let stand for 20 minutes.
Pour apple mixture into baking dish. Lightly press remaining 3 cups of bread pieces on top of mixture in baking dish. Brush top of bread with melted butter. In small bowl, mix 2 tbsp granulated sugar and ½ tsp of cinnamon; sprinkle over top.
Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until top is puffed and light golden brown. The center will still be a little jiggly. Cool for 30 minutes.
In 1 quart saucepan, heat sauce ingredients to boiling over high heat, stirring constantly, just until butter is melted and sauce is hot. Serve warm bread pudding with sauce.