Bread pudding in a casserole

Bread pudding in a casserole with vanilla sauce is a classic and comforting dessert. Here’s how you can make it:

Bread Pudding Ingredients:

• 6 cups of stale bread, cut into cubes (such as French bread or brioche)
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup of raisins or other dried fruit (optional)

Vanilla Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Instructions:

Bread Pudding:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
2. Place the cubed bread in the prepared casserole dish.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes, making sure all the bread is soaked.
5. If using, sprinkle the raisins or other dried fruit over the bread mixture and gently press them in.
6. Let the bread pudding mixture sit for about 15-20 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
7. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the pudding is set and golden brown on top.
8. Remove the bread pudding from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.

Vanilla Sauce:

1. In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar over medium heat.
2. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add both the seeds and the pod to the saucepan. If using vanilla extract, skip this step.
3. Heat the mixture until it starts to simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. If you want a thicker sauce, mix the cornstarch with a little water to make a slurry, then slowly whisk it into the sauce. Continue to simmer until the sauce thickens slightly.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and remove the vanilla bean pod if used.
6. Serve the warm bread pudding with the vanilla sauce drizzled over the top.

Enjoy your delicious bread pudding with vanilla sauce! Feel free to customize it by adding your favorite nuts, chocolate chips, or other flavorings to the bread pudding mixture.