Bread Pudding: A Tantalizing Winter Dessert

When bitter cold winter winds are whipping the tree branches around you and wreaking havoc outside, your thoughts inevitably turn to comforting desserts. What could possibly be better than a hearty, wholesome cinnamon bread pudding? One of the best features of this dessert is that it allows you to use those bread slices that are on the verge of becoming stale.

A simple, yet tasty recipe calls for six slices of day-old bread, two tablespoons of melted butter. Although Food Network star Paula Deen would probably want to double that. You also need 1/2 cup of raisins, four beaten eggs, two cups of whole milk, 3/4 cup of sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla. Tear up the bread slices into little pieces and place them into an eight inch baking dish. Pour your butter over the bread and sprinkle with raisins. Dates or other dried fruit will work as well. Next, simply combine all other ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl and beat together until well mixed.

Pour liquid over the bread and raisins in the baking pan and push the bread pieces down so that the egg mixture covers them completely. Sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg over the top for extra flavor and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve with either vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream for a real treat! Not only is this a tantalizing dessert itself, but it also makes a lovely holiday gift for you to offer to friends and colleagues alike.