Sure Winner Bread Pudding

On a recent Holland-American cruise, old-fashioned bread pudding was one of the staples of the dessert buffet. It was much more popular than other exotic offerings.. This is my approximation of their recipe.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 7  slices  of slightly stale  raisin bread, thick slices
• 1⁄4 cup  softened butter
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 3  eggs
• 4  cups homogenized milk
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  freshly grated nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  dried fruit (raisins, chopped apricots, dried cranberries are all good) (optional)

Directions

1. Lavishly butter the bread slices on one side and cut in half.
2. Layer the bread, butter side down, in an ungreased baking dish sprinkling the dried fruit between layers (if using) Combine eggs and sugars and beat, gradually adding milk.
3. Stir in vanilla, nutmeg and salt.
4. Pour over the bread placing a plate on top to prevent the bread from floating.
5. Cover and let stand in the refrigerator for several hours.
6. Bake, covered, in 350 F oven for 1/2 hour and then uncover and bake 1/2 hour longer.
7. Serve warm with any fruit sauce or vanilla ice cream.