Banana, Bread Pudding

If you know me personally, you know I love to bake. Fall and Winter are the best times to bake as there is just something so cozy about comfort foods. For me, baking is all about comfort. I don’t really like to make anything fancy or elaborate. Easy, and being able to use ingredients I have on hand, is always my idea of good baking.

About a week or so ago, I was feeling the urge to bake and wanted to try something different. I looked around my kitchen and noticed I had some really ripe bananas and in the bread drawer, lots of heels and miscellaneous buns and rolls. So, I quickly did a google search for Banana Bread Pudding and came up with this easy recipe.

Banana Bread Pudding

1 loaf day old French bread, cubed with crust on (I used the above mentioned bread and it was just fine)

1 quart milk

3 eggs

1 c. sugar

2 T. vanilla extract

4 ripe bananas, mashed

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

whipped cream

Optional ingredients which I didn’t use: dash of myer rum, 1 c. raisins

Put cubed bread into a large bowl and pour milk over all, let stand 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish. In another bowl, beat eggs and add sugar and vanilla. Stir this mixture into the bread mixture. Fold in mashed bananas and spices (raisins if desired). Pour evenly into baking dish. Place uncovered in center of oven and bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove and cool. Serve with whipped cream. Enjoy!

I wish I had a picture of the end result to show you, but unfortunately we all gobbled it up too fast.  It was very tasty.

The pictures on this post obviously have nothing to do with Banana Bread Pudding.  I just thought I would share some images of some of the pretty things I’m enjoying around the house today.

We are having some really wet and windy weather here in the PNW. Perfect for staying home and baking. I think I’ll make a pie… I hope wherever you are, you are warm, dry and cozy.