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Ruby's Bread Pudding

We found this recipe in Austin Leslie's cookbook. It is from his mother, Ruby — she was Aunt Helen's sister and assisted her at Chez Helene and its predecessor, Howard's Eatery. Although Leslie served the bread pudding with a rum hard sauce, we prefer it with a dollop of crème fraîche.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

1

baguette (about 24 by 3 inches; 3/4 pound), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices and ends discarded

3

cups water

3

large eggs

1

(12-ounce) can evaporated milk

1

stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1

cup granulated sugar

1

/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1

tablespoon vanilla

Rounded 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1

/4 teaspoon salt

1

cup raisins

1

(15 1/4-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained (1 cup)

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Arrange bread in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan just large enough to hold it in 1 layer. Pour water over bread and soak 30 seconds. Turn bread over and soak until softened but not falling apart (parts of crust will remain firm), about 4 minutes more. Squeeze water from bread, then transfer bread to a buttered 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish or other 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.

    Step 3

    Whisk together eggs, milk, butter, sugars, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt and stir in raisins and pineapple. Pour mixture over bread and stir gently until combined well.

    Step 4

    Bake pudding, uncovered, in middle of oven until custard is just set, 45 to 50 minutes.