Bread and Butter Pudding

Ingredients

• 4 Eggs (Original recipe calls for 3 eggs, increased for modern portion size.)
• 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 1 quart Whole milk
• 8 slices Stale bread
• 0.5 cup Butter, softened
• 0.75 cup Raisins (optional)
• 2 cups Applesauce (optional)
• 0.5 teaspoon Vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. 1Remove the crusts from the bread slices. Spread each slice generously with softened butter. Cut the bread into halves or triangles.
2. 2Arrange the buttered bread slices in a buttered baking dish, buttered side down. If using applesauce, spread it on the bottom of the dish before adding the bread.
3. 3In a bowl, beat the eggs slightly. Add the sugar, salt, and milk. If using vanilla, add it now. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve.
4. 4Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread in the baking dish. If using raisins, sprinkle them over the bread. Let the bread soak in the custard for at least 30 minutes.
5. 5Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Bake the pudding for 1 hour, covering it with foil for the first 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning. The top of the pudding should be well browned when done.
6. 6Let the pudding cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with hard sauce, creamy sauce, or cream.