People have asked and mind you, this was a harried housewife recipe I did when I wanted bread pudding but no bread. I found this also works great with day old banana bread and carrot cake.


Ingredients:
6 Cups of gingerbread or gingerbread cake (not fresh tho because it'll be too soft)
3 Cups whole milk
6 eggs
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Tablesp. vanilla
Dash of ground Cinnamon
1/2 Cup of dried fruit (ie: raisins, dates, or figs. Soak in lukewarm water first if too dried)
Chocolate chips, chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. I recommend using some sort of deep dish cake pan like an 8" or a 9". I used a square pan as it distributes evenly. Grease lightly with unsalted butter. No PAM. It discolors the custard.

Heat up your gingerbread/banana/carrot until warm and cut to cubes no bigger than spoon size. Place your cubes in the greased pan. Don't worry if they fill the top.

Mix the milk, vanilla, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and pour over the cubes. Give it a chance to soak (5 minutes) before putting to oven. Sprinkle nuts or chocolate if you're adding them on top.

Bake for 45-60 minutes. It'll depend on your dish, oven, altitude. Check after 45 with a skewer or toothpick at the center. Ready when it comes out clean, like you would a cake or brownie.

Note: For the twins, I don't top it with anything, but for adults, I recommend a Rum-Molasses Sauce or Whipped Cream with a dash of ground ginger and nutmeg whisked in. For Banana or Carrot, a sweetened cream cheese or a vanilla sauce. All the recipes uses the same kind of icing recipe:

3/4 Cup of sugar
1/4 Cup of Water

Boil the sugar and 3 tablesp of water slowly until caramelized. Then put the rest of the water, 3 tablesp of butter, 3 tablesp of rum, 2 tablesp of molasses, a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.

You can use the same recipe, substituting the rum and molasses with vanilla.


Enjoy! Happy New Year!

mommy