bread pudding

[luke]

my nan used to make this, absolutely the best ever unfortunately i never got the recipe off her but i've found this off the internet and its almost as good as my nans. it easy to make, cheap, and just really tasty

* 8 oz/225 g stale (day old) bread, broken up into smallish pieces
* 1/2 pt/300ml cold water
* 3 oz/75g soft brown sugar
* 1 egg (beaten)
* 2 oz/50g currants
* 2 oz/50g raisins
* 1/4 pt/150ml milk
* 1/4 tsp mixed spice

Put the bread in a bowl and add the cold water.
Allow to soak for 1 hr.
Drain the bread and squeeze out any excess water (using your hands!)
Mix the bread with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into a greased 8" square baking tin
Cook at 180C/gas 4 for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours until firm to the touch and brown on top.
Allow to cool for 30 mins or so in the tin, before cutting into squares.
Serve warm or cold.

Variation: use any combination of dried fruit eg: cranberries, cherries, apricots etc.

i've found that i only need 1oz of sugar and i use a bit more mixed spice, plus i add in a bit of candid peel, and fresh bread works just as well. and i cook it in a casserole dish because i don't have a cake tin enjoy

warning - this is highly addictive!

[Skylace]

Oh, I love a good bread pudding. My husband doesn't really like it as all. One of those things that he always points out makes me a bit more British than him

[eefanincan]

[faceless]

Is it not supposed to rise? I remember my mum used to make 'bread and butter pudding' so maybe that's something different.

[luke]

bread pudding and bread and butter pudding are two different things

[faceless]

ah right cool - the one you made looks similar to 'clootie dumpling' that they have in fry-ups here.

[Aja]

Oh Luke That looks just like my Nan used to make .....Ive never ever tasted one like hers ill have to try that recipe and let you know ... Cheers love

I don't really make a lot of sweet things unless its with the kids But i made a really unusual Banana upside down cake and it was Delish....(a few weeks back ) I must get my act together this weekend and post that and a few more recipes ....I just don't seem to have time anymore with this new Job

[11antoniacourt]

Thanks Luke. I too love a good bread pudding and thanks for posting. I'm confused by 180C/gas mark 4, but I"ll check the net to see what that means in terms of my oven in the US. I think Nigella Lawson has the conversions on her site. I"ll be thinking of you and how much you loved your Nan when I try it!

[luke]

aja, there seems to be a few recipes about that differ slightly, some have butter in it, some vegetable suet ( ?! ), delias got a fancy one with brandy in - if the one you have from your nans is different you'll have to post it up the banana upside down cake sounds good!

antonia, 180c is 356 degrees fahrenheit

[Aja]

[Aja]

grr I wanted to make this yesterday..... I went to 4 different supermarkets and could not find Mixed spice ....is it called something different here ?

ok I did find a Jamaican mixed spice which i thought may be to hot so i did not buy it ....but after doing a google maybe it will be ok

[luke]

i don't know aja, i'd have thought mixed spice would have been available over there - its used in all sorts of things. if you can't find it you might already have the different things that make it up - cinnamon, coriander seed, caraway, nutmeg, ginger and cloves ( in order of quantity )