Sweets are a definite weakness of mine. I love baked goods, cream pies, fruit pies, pastries, ummm just about anything sweet that you can come up with. Whenever my friends and /or family travels and we see a local bakery, im the one who says ” We need to check that out”.

One of the most simple desserts that I love to make is bread pudding. Growing up, my mom would make this at least once a month. She served it plain on a plate with a fork …cold and I would eat it as if it were the best thing around. Now that I do my own cooking, ive stolen my moms recipe and made it into my own. I basically make it the same way, however I serve it warm with a butter rum sauce.  Just thinking about it makes me wanna get in the kitchen and whip up another batch.

Bread Pudding Recipe    

• 15-20 slices of  slightly stale bread (fresh soft bread doesnt work out as well)
• 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1-2 cans of Evaporated Milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Butter Rum Sauce

• 1 stick butter (melted)
• 1 cup of Rum
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

To make the bread pudding, you first rip the pieces of sliced bread and place into a large bowl. In a small glass bowl mix your egg, sugar and and vanilla. Stir til well mixed. Pour applesauce over the bread . Add the sugar mixture to the bread.  Take your first can of Evaporated Milk and pour over the bread mixture. Mixture will look lumpy and honestly slightly gross…lol. You want the mixture to have the consistency of a very lumpy cake batter. If needed add additional milk. Stir. Mix in raisins. Pour the mixture into a glass baking dish. (be sure to spray with non stick spray first) Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until edges have started to brown and center is set.

Once the bread pudding has been completed you can begin your rum sauce. I like to make mine right before we eat it so that the sauce is nice and warm.

Rum Sauce

Melt the butter in a saucepan on med heat. add the sugar (not powdered), continue to cook until sugar has melted. Once completely melted take the saucepan off of the heat and add the rum. Use a whisk to mix this. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix with the whisk. Mix until sauce is smooth.