fbpx

Buzz loves bread pudding. If he was on a desert island and could only bring along one food, I would guess this would be it.

serving-applebreadpud

So bread pudding with fruit? YES PLEASE.

Apple Bread Pudding – Mid-Century Recipe Guest Test Sunday
Ingredients
  • Apple Bread Pudding
  • 8 slices bread
  • 1 1/2 cups hot milk
  • 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 apple, pared and diced (1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • Lemon Sauce
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon shredded lemon peel
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Toast bread on baking sheet in oven till golden; cut in 1/2-inch cubes (5 1/2 cups). Turn into butter 1 1/2-quart casserole. Add hot milk and butter or margarine; let stand 30 minutes.
  2. Beat eggs till light. Add salt, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and apple; stir into bread mixture. Sprinkle brown sugar over pudding. Bake, uncovered, at 300° for 45 minutes.
  3. Top with Lemon Sauce: Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Slowly add 1 cup boiling water. Cook and stir till thick and clear; remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, 1 teaspoon shredded lemon peel, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice; blend.
  4. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
3.2.1284

 
recipe-applebread

This is rather different than Buzz’s typical recipe. The bread chunks are soaked before the egg is added, and he doesn’t add apples or toppings.

sliced

But based on his experience, we knew that a good-quality, thick-sliced bread was going to be important. Bread is pretty central to this recipe.

custard

Also, the toaster is faster and easier than toasting bread in the oven. One wonders if this is, perhaps, the reason it was named a “toaster.”

Wasn’t everybody getting free toasters when they opened bank accounts back in the mid-century? I’m sure I remember some jokes about that.

baked

I have to admit: I don’t typically put brown sugar on top of bread pudding when I bake it. It made a really nice-looking crust on top.

tasting-smile

Buzz often smiles when he first sees a retro recipe, but it’s often a nervous or resigned smile. This one was pure happy.

tasting-bliss

Mmmmmmmmmmm, yes.

Verdict: Delicious.

Tasting notes:

The brown sugar topping gives a nice crunch to contrast the gooey bread. Cinnamon and nutmeg levels are perfect. The apples weren’t critical to the dish, although it was a pleasant addition. Go light on the lemon sauce, it may start to get too sweet and cloying after a few bites, but don’t leave off the brown sugar topping!

  |