Bread Pudding

By bela1102

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, for baking dish
• 12 ounces brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 cups milk
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 4 large eggs, plus 1 large egg yolk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup boiling water, plus more for pan

Preparation

Step 1

DIRECTIONS
1. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside. Put bread in a large bowl; set aside. Heat milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just about to simmer; remove from heat.
2. Whisk eggs, yolk, sugar, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl (and 3 oz of chocolate as desired). Whisking constantly, pour cream mixture in a slow, steady stream into egg mixture. Pour over bread; fold to combine. Let stand 30 minutes, tossing and pressing occasionally to submerge bread.
3. Meanwhile, soak raisins in 1 cup boiling water for 30 minutes.
4. Drain; stir raisins into bread mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a slotted spoon, transfer bread to buttered dish; pour liquid in bowl over top. Using spoon, turn top layer of bread crust side up.
5. Set dish in a roasting pan; transfer to oven. Pour boiling water into pan to reach about halfway up sides of dish. Bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Let dish cool on a rack 10 to 20 minutes.