Old Fashioned Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

This is just so yummy, so sweet and satisfying and such a "comfort" dessert.

Tip: let the bread and milk mixture soak for 10 minutes to guarantee the bread will soak up enough of the liquid. This will ensure a better bread pudding consistency. Included with this recipe is a vanilla sauce that makes this an extra special pudding.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: approx 45 minutes
Serves 8

Ingredients:

8 slices white bread ( Italian bread is perfect for this recipe) cubed to make about 4 cups.
1/2 c of raisins
2 c milk
1/4 cup butter (4 tbsp)
1/2 c sugar
2 large eggs,lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Vanilla Sauce (see recipe below)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 deg

Grease a 1 & 1/2 qt baking dish.
Combine the bread cubes and raisins in a large bowl.

Combine the milk and butter in a small saucepan.

Cook this iver medium heat for 4-7 minutes, or until the butter is melted.
Pour the milk mixture over the bread mixture and let stand for 10 minutes.
Stir together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg into the bread mixture.

Pour into the greased baking dish. 

Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until set in the center.

Meanwhile make the Vanilla Sauce. When ready to serve, dish out the warm pudding into individual dessert dishes and ladle the warm sauce over each serving.

Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients

1/2 c butter (1 stick )
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Combine in a small saucepan all ingredients except the vanilla extract.
Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until the mixture thickens and comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract

Makes 8 servings.