Donna's Holiday Bread Pudding~

As a child my mom always made bread pudding with the leftover bread heels & any other parts as well, when not using to make homemade bread crumbs.  Loving bread pudding made me convert the regular recipe to my own...Studded with raisins & apple chunks this is delicious warm or cold~

Preheat oven to 350 degrees...45 minutes

4-6 cups day old bread (french, bagels, white, wheat)

2 cups eggnog (more if needed)

1/2-1 cup sugar (depending on desired sweetness, but remember eggnog has a lot of sugar)

4 eggs beaten

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2-3/4 tsp.  ground cloves

OR

pumpkin pie spice to your desired taste

1/2 cup or more raisins

Apple chunks & nuts optional

1. Tear up bread into chunks

2. Mix eggnog and beaten eggs, spices & raisins to bread mixing well.

3. Let sit for 30 minutes mixing again before placing in pan sprayed with cooking spray (11' x 7' or 13' x 9') depending on desired thickness.

4. Once stirred, place into greased pan & into preheated oven.

5. Depending on your oven temperature check @ 30 minutes, but usually takes 40-45.  You will be able to tell the difference.  Toothpick will come out clean.

6. Whipped cream & a caramel sauce are great over this also...

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Cream Cheese Caramel Sauce/Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine cream cheese, brown sugar & vanilla,  mixing well.  Serve drizzled over whipped cream or just over bread pudding.  To uses as a dip with apples place in fridg til firm~