SAVORY BREAD PUDDING BITES WITH BACON, TOMATO & CHEDDAR CHEESE

By jarren

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon
• 2 tbsp flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 12 oz dense white bread (such as French Bread, Challah, or Brioche) cut into 6 1-inch slices
• 1 medium tomato, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 green onions, green and white parts, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish

Details

Servings 36

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter the bottom and sides of a 13- by 9-inch baking dish.

Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Crumble and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture, then stir in cheeses.

Dip thick pieces of dense white bread - I used French bread, but brioche would be even better- one at a time, into the egg mixture until saturated. Arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Stir chopped tomato, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onion into the remaining egg mixture and pour evenly over the top of the bread.

Bake the French toast until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let the French toast rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 1 1/2 inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the French toast. Garnish with extra slices of green onion. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

Makes approximately 36 hors d'ouvres.