Cooking Therapy

Do you have some leftover, somewhat stale and dry bread? Do you know what to make with it? Most people opt to add some herbs and make their own homemade breadcrumbs, however, there is a much, much tastier option: Bread Pudding. My recipe for bread pudding takes your boring, dry, old bread and converts it into a delicious dessert that could be enjoyed hot or cold. Try yours with some ice cream or caramel syrup, or just enjoy as is!

Prep Time: 35 minutes

Bake Time: 1 hour

Serves: 8

Ingredients

3 cups of bread diced in 1inch cubes (about half loaf of French bread) (you can use any type of bread you prefer, I used a Greek sweet bread with dried fruits and nuts)

2 cups of Bailey’s or any kind of Irish Cream liqueur

1 cup heavy cream

3 large eggs

½ cup of sugar (if you have regular bread instead of sweet bread, add more sugar based on sweetness preference)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

A pinch of clove

½ cup dried apricots

½ cup dried cherries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
• Butter a 9 x 13 square or 9-inch round baking dish
• In a large bowl, add the bread, Bailey’s, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, and stir. Let it sit for about 20 minutes
• In a separate bowl, add the sugar, vanilla, and eggs and whisk until the sugar has dissolved and a smooth mixture forms. Add the heavy cream and whisk until incorporated
• Add the dried fruits and heavy cream mixture into the bread mixture and stir to combine
• Transfer the mixture to the buttered baking dish and smooth the top
• Bake for about an hour or until fluffy soft and a toothpick or knife comes out clean
• Enjoy either hot or cold and preferably with some ice cream or hot caramel sauce
• Enjoy!