A Simple Bread Pudding Recipe

Bread pudding is a fairly simple, delicious dessert made mainly of French bread, milk, and sugar. It was actually created in the 1300's and known as 'poor man's pudding'. Its use was to salvage staled bread by soaking it in milk and sugar, other spices and flavorings, then being baked.
Later on, it was reserved as a Christmas-time dessert. Today, it is no longer reserved for Christmas only. Many people make this pudding throughout the year for many occasions. There are many different ways to make it; some people even add fruits and other spices to their bread pudding.

In fact, something similar to this recipe is referenced in 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. Christmas dinner features what was called plum pudding, made by Mrs. Cratchit. When it comes to this dessert, the possibilities are virtually endless. There are two main components of this particular recipe for bread pudding; one is the bread pudding itself and the second one is the whiskey sauce that covers it. 

Supplies you will need:

- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 medium mixing bowl
- 1 medium sized, heavy sauce pan
- 1 13x9x2 inch baking dish
- 1 measuring cup
- 1 tablespoon measuring spoon
- 12-15 dessert dishes

Ingredients you will need for bread pudding:

- 1 pound loaf of French bread
- 1 quart of milk
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of raisins
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons of butter or margarine
- melted whiskey sauce

To make whiskey sauce you will need:

- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of butter or margarine
- 1/2 cup of half & half
- 2 tablespoons of whiskey

To make the bread pudding, you will first need to break the French bread loaf into small chunks and place it in the large mixing bowl. Add 1 quart of milk and stir well. Let this mixture stand for 15 minutes. Then, you will need to combine the three eggs, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, one cup of raisins, and two tablespoons of vanilla extract. Add this mixture to the bread and milk, stirring frequently. Melt the three tablespoons of butter and pour it into the 13x9x2 baking dish. Spoon bread mixture into this dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until mixture has 'set'. After letting the bread pudding cool; cut it into individual squares. Finally, place each square into seperate dessert dishes. This should make about 12-15 servings. 

To make the whiskey sauce you must first combine 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, and 1/2 cup of half & half in a heavy saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat and let it simmer for about five minutes. Next, remove from heat and let mixture cool. Stir in two tablespoons of whiskey and you're done. This will make about a 1 1/2 cups of whiskey sauce. Lastly, spoon the whiskey sauce over the individual bread pudding squares.

Bread pudding makes a terrific dessert for almost any occasion. Whip it up for the family at Thanksgiving, or make a special batch for a holiday party. Serve at a buffet-style gathering during the summer, or include this dish on your own menu anytime! You may also feel free to experiment with different types of fruits and spices until you find the right combination to tickle your fancy. With such a simple, scrumptious recipe your guests will request bread pudding every time!