Recipe: Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

This past weekend we had our annual Framily Christmas. This is the 3rd time we have done it and we get together with all of Mike's childhood friends and Eat, Drink, and Be Merry. Everyone brings a dish and we provide the ham. Really, it's just an excuse to get together and have a meal.

My friend Lenny is notorious for bringing the only thing he can make.....Frito Pie....and it's not exactly the best compliment to ham, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, and all the norms for holiday meals. So, this year Mike told him to come over early and took him to the store to get everything I needed to make Bread Pudding. Then we agreed that would be his contribution. lol.

I have to tell you this is THE EASIEST recipe for Bread Pudding you will ever come across. And...it's so delicious. I made it one year for Mike's birthday and ever since he has requested it for every time we need a special dessert. The best part is that you can make it ahead of time and then just bring your muffin tins or ramekins and prepare it there if you have to travel. And it will literally take you 5 minutes to prepare. I would recommend making the sauce on the spot, but you could probably prepare that ahead of time and heat it up later if you wanted to.

Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

for the pudding

• 1 loaf Pepperidge Farm cinnamon raisin bread

• 1 1/3 cups milk

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

for the sauce

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 1 tbsp flour

• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

• 1 egg

• 2 tbsp butter, melted

• 1 1/4 cups milk 

• pinch of salt

• tbsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375º and spray muffin tins or ramekins with non stick spray. In a LARGE bowl, mix together milk, sugar, and eggs. Slice bread into cubes and add to egg mixture. Fold through to coat all of the bread. Put in refrigerator for about 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Scoop into muffin tins or ramekins. Bake for about 30 minutes.

While bread pudding is baking. Add all sauce ingredients to a saucepan. Mix together and heat over medium heat whisking constantly until the sauce thickens. Pour over bread pudding. Enjoy!!