Desserts/maple bread pudding

Serves: 6-8

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hour

From: Monadnock Shopper

Ingredients

8 (1/2-inch thick) slices Italian or French day-old bread

butter

4 eggs

2/3 cup pure maple syrup

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

2 cups milk

Directions

Step 1

Butter a 7x11 inch baking dish. Lightly toast bread on both sides. Place in buttered dish and butter bread side that faces up. In a bowl, beat eggs lightly; add syrup, salt and spices. Gradually stir in half and half. Pour mixture over bread. Place baking dish inside a larger baking pan or rimmed baking sheet. Fill pan with hot water about halfway up sides of baking dish. If you are baking pudding right away, let stand at room temperature about 1 hour. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until custard is set. It will not be really firm, although the custard should look cooked. Or refrigerate pudding overnight and bake in the morning for 50-60 minutes.

Step 2

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and/or maple syrup, if desired.