Torta Di Pane (Rustic Bread Pudding Cake from Ticino

This is a traditional cake from Ticino Switzerland.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 1  loaf  French bread (about 1 pound) or 1  loaf  Italian bread, slightly stale and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 1 pound)
• 1  tablespoon  finely grated lemon zest
• 1  quart milk
• 6  large eggs
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  cup  whole almond, ground in food processor
• 2  cups dark raisins
•  blanched almonds and pine nuts, for topping (whole)
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter
•  confectioners' sugar, for finishing

Directions

1. Grease a 10 inch round cake pan.
2. Heat oven to 400 degrees with rack in middle of oven.
3. Put the bread cubes in a food processor and pulse to make 1/8 inch crumbs.
4. Put crumbs in large mixing bowl with lemon zest.
5. Bring the milk to a simmer over medium heat and then pour over the bread to cover it completely.
6. Let mixture stand for 10 minutes so the bread absorbs the milk.
7. In another large bowl whisk the eggs and then add the sugar in a stream.
8. Then whisk in the cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg and vanilla.
9. Stir the bread soaked mixture into this.
10. Stir in the ground almonds and raisins.
11. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
12. Decorate with the almonds and pine nuts in a symmetrical pattern.
13. Dot the top of the batter with the butter.
14. Place the pan in the oven and immediately lower heat to 350 degrees.
15. Bake the cake until it is a deep golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about an hour.
16. Cool the cake in the pan, on a rack.
17. Invert cake onto rack and then invert again onto platter.
18. Dust cake with confectioner's sugar before serving.