Breakfast Bread Pudding

I love me some bread pudding, yet I never make it.    You can be assured that if it is on the menu when we dine out, I will order it.    Chocolate bread pudding, pumpkin bread pudding, traditional Southern bread pudding with whiskey sauce.   It matters not.

When I saw this recipe in our local paper last December 24, I knew I had to make it.

Make-ahead breakfast casseroles are great, but one does get a bit tired of them.  How many ways can you use white bread, eggs, milk, sausage and cheese?

This one sounded deliciously different and perfect for Christmas morning.

You can use any kind of bread for this.    The original chefs who created this recipe stated:

This is an excellent opportunity to use any leftover challah, brioche or panettone, instead of raisin bread. This recipe is easily doubled or halved.

For the original recipe (and a few others), click here.

I made my own raisin bread for this dish.

Bread Pudding for Breakfast
Serves 8-12 (hearty servings)

1 lb. sliced raisin bread, preferably stale, cut into triangles (I used homemade.)
2 c. half-and-half
1/2 c. milk
8 farm fresh large eggs
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. sea salt
2 t. vanilla
2 T. sugar
1 lb. breakfast sausage, browned and crumbled
Butter for greasing baking dish
Maple syrup

Grease 11” x 15” glass baking dish.   Arrange triangles on bottom of pan.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together milk, cream, eggs, cinnamon, salt and vanilla.  (This also mixture also makes a great traditional French toast.)

Pour egg mixture over bread. Press the bread into the egg mixture so that it soaks up as much as possible. Sprinkle sugar over soaked bread.

Sprinkle sausage over soaked bread.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow mixture to stand.  Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.

When ready to bake, remove bread pudding from refrigerator, remove plastic wrap and allow bread pudding to rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325.  Bake bread pudding for 45-50  minutes or until custard is set in the middle and bread is golden brown and puffed.

Serve with warm maple syrup.

As stated above, I found this recipe on December 24, 2012.     I have saved it until today.

On Christmas morning, keep those PJs on, start a fire in the fire place, keep the tea kettle whistling, check the stockings, and throw this pre-made casserole in the oven.  Spend much needed time with family and friends.

I hope this helps you have a stree-free and delicious Christmas morn.