Spirited Bread Pudding

Name: Spirited Bread Pudding
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter, softened; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts; 2 cups fat-free milk; 1 (8-ounce) loaf French bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1/4 cup golden raisins; 1 1/2 tablespoons cognac; 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; Orange rind strips (optional)

15 ingredients

4 steps

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts
2 cups fat-free milk
1 (8-ounce) loaf French bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons cognac
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Orange rind strips (optional)

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 350°.
2

Spread softened butter evenly into the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan, and sprinkle with brown sugar and walnuts. Set prepared pan aside.
3

Combine milk and bread in a large bowl. Let stand 15 minutes, occasionally pressing on bread to soak up milk. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla, salt, and eggs; stir with a wooden spoon 1 minute or until bread cubes break apart. Stir in raisins, cognac, and 1/2 teaspoon grated rind. Pour bread mixture into prepared pan. Place pan in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan; add hot water to larger pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake pan from water. Let stand 5 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter.
4

Sift 2 tablespoons granulated sugar evenly over pudding. Holding a kitchen blowtorch about 3 inches from surface of pudding, heat sugar, moving torch back and forth, until sugar is completely melted and caramelized (about 1 minute). Serve warm. Garnish with orange rind strips, if desired.