Banana Bourbon Bread Pudding

I have a weakness for bread pudding. I always steered clear from making it thinking it was some elaborate dish that I could not handle. Also, if it were too easy to make, I would be making it all of the time, plus not having the will power to step away from a large spoon and devour the whole bread pudding casserole in one fair swoop.

On this Sunday’s Joy The Baker’s dessert menu recipe is Bourbon Bread Pudding. I have made Banana Bread so many times, I have lost count. Very amazing with Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate and Macadamia Nuts. So I thought I would make a bread pudding. Baker Dave delivered an amazing Boule, it was perfect for the bread pudding with the right texture.

Ingredients

butter, softened
7 slices good-quality white bread (this doesn’t have to be exact! can also use soft brown bread or mix brown and white breads with excellent results.)
1 quart milk
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup Bourbon
1/4 cup unsalted dry toasted slivered almonds
1 banana ripened, sliced

Method

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Spread a generous amount of butter on one side of each slice of bread and line the bottom and sides of the baking dish. Insert slices of banana between each slice of bread.
Mix together the milk, eggs, Bourbon, sugar, salt, raisins, and vanilla and cinnamon, if you are using them, and pour over the bread. Place any extra pieces of bread on top and press down so they are submerged. Sprinkle with almonds.
Let stand for about 10 minutes, a little longer if the bread is particularly dry.
Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for 30 minutes more.
If you like a crustier brown top, slip the dish under a hot broiler a few minutes until deep golden.

Recipe slightly adapted from Fannie Farmer Cookbook and Joy The Baker Cookbook
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