Bread Pudding for the Entire Family

We've spoken quite a bit about dinner, breakfast, lunch...but what about DESSERT???
Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), most kids LOVE dessert and this one is sure to please.

It took me a while to discover bread pudding (my mother never made this growing up), but once I did, I was immediately in love. I love the right type - not too dry and not too mushy. I like mine cold and plain (some find this boring), and my husband loves it with chocolate, raisins, and anything else not nailed down (as does my son and his cousins).

This recipe we found online (it's Paula Deen's) and Dane and Daddy swear it's the best one! I'll reproduce it down here so you don't have to leave the blog ;)

This is a great recipe for a family holiday or a potluck dinner with little kids. Leave out the nuts if there are any kids with allergies. It's a great way to use up that left over baguette or Italian loaf sitting on the counter!

Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
5 large beaten eggs
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups cubed Italian bread, allow to stale overnight in a bowl (ours was about 3 days old)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick)butter softened
1 cup chopped pecans

We added:
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan.
Mix together granulated sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl; add vanilla. Pour over cubed bread and let sit or 10 minutes.
In another bowl, mix and crumble together brown sugar butter, pecans, chocolate chip and raisins (if using).
Pour bread mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over top and bake for 35-45 minutes or until set.
Remove from oven.

We find that letting it sit and set outside the oven for a little bit is best.

I'm leaving off the sauce recipe - for me, it was a bit over the top...you'll have a serious sugar high to combat if you give it to the kids too late in the day!

xoxo

Lis