Over 2 years ago I made myself one of my favourite desserts, rice pudding. The following day I wrote about it here, in my blog and stated that my next attempt would be at making bread pudding.

Well today I finally got around to doing just that. I had the same dilemma with finding a recipe on the internet though - there are so many different varieties ranging from puddings that look nearer to bread and butter puddings to chocolate bread puddings. I just wanted a nice simple traditional bread pudding so I had to do a bit of hunting using Google Images to find what I wanted.

It turns out there is a recipe on BBC Food which would have done just fine, but they don't show pictures of the finished product so wasn't sure if it was the exact varient I wanted. But comparing it to another I found on the web, I managed to confirm it was along the right lines. In the end I used both recipes taking bits from one, and bits from another which seemed to work well.

So now, mainly so that I don't have to hunt out a recipe next time, but also because I'm nice and like to share things, here is the recipe I used. I have also created an illustrated version of this step by step guide which can be found HERE.

Equipment

• Scales
• Measuring Jug
• Hand Whisk
• Wooden Spoon
• Large Mixing Bowl
• 7inch Baking Pan

Ingredients

• 225g of white bread with crusts
• 275ml of milk
• 175g of mixed dried fruit (currents, raisens, sultanas etc)
• 50g of chopped mixed peel
• 75g of demarara sugar
• 1 1/2 tspns of mixed spice
• 1 large egg
• sprinkling of nutmeg (optional)
• 1 tspn of ginger
• 1 tspn of castor suger

Method

1. Add the bread to a mixing bowl and break up into small pieces
2. Add the milk to the bread. Leave to soak for 10 minutes then 'mash' the bread, removing as many lumps as possible
3. Add the mixed dried fruit
4. Add the chopped mixed peel
5. Add the demarara sugar
6. Add the mixed spice
7. Beat the egg, then add to the mixture
8. (Optional) Add a sprinkling of nutmeg
9. Add the ginger
10. Stir the mixture thoroughly
11. Take the baking pan and coat the edges with margarine to prevent sticking
12. Pour the mixture into the baking pan ensuring it is evenly spread
13. Place the pan into the centre of a preheated oven at 180C / Gas Mark 4.
14. Cook for approximately 50-60 minutes (fan oven) or until the mixture is a deep golden brown.
15. Allow the pudding to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle castor sugar over the top
16. Serve and enjoy. Tastes great hot or cold.

And that's that. The recipe will serve no more than 8 people, but I'd say 4 for people who like large desserts. As Kate's not really a fan it looks like I get the whole thing to myself so it should last me a week a reckon.

And yes it did turn out just as I wanted it too!