Are you looking for something a little different but soooo easy and full of down-home yummy goodness for this holiday season? Or for any time during the year when you want something sweet and mouth-watering with a bit of crunch? Only tagged me on FB with this recipe 10 YEARS AGO! Wowser, time flies. It popped up in a “memories reminder” last week and bingo! I knew I had to share with y’all. Also, bonus video to help you make this treat. And you can read while it’s baking. Just sayin’…

Pecan Pie Bread Pudding

Ingredients:
1 (16 oz) loaf day old crusty bread, cubed (alternatively, if your bread is fresh, cube it and lightly toast in a 350 F oven for 15-20 minutes- this helps the bread cubes absorb more of the custard mixture without getting too soggy)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups half & half
½ cup salted butter
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
¼ cup corn syrup
2 cups pecans halves
1 Tablespoon vanilla
⅛ teaspoon table salt

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Put the bread cubes in a large bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, milk and half & half together. Pour over the bread and allow to soak 5 to 10 minutes. Pour bread pudding into a 9×13 greased pan.

4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and mix with the brown sugar, corn syrup and pecans. Stir in the vanilla and salt. When the sugar has all melted and the mixture is syrupy, about five minutes, pour it into the pan of bread pudding and mix.

5. Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 F 45 to 55 minutes, uncovering the pan after 30 minutes so the top will brown.

I should admint that two of my favorite desserts are bread pudding and pecan pie so this one is a complete no-brainer for me. When I make bread pudding, I use my grandmother’s recipe. We’re talking antique heirloom recipe here. But add in the pecans and pie flavorings? Yum! I chose to feature the PENUMBRA PAPERS series because bread pudding seems like a Southern thing and New Orleans has fabulous bread pudding in its restaurants. Like me, Sade is drawn to NOLA. Plus, being stuck in the Penumbra world at the moment… Anyway, go buy a book for someone for Christmas. Mine, or someone elses. Click on the pic with the covers or the series link above. A new tab will magically open, you can find your book of choice and then your on-line bookstore of choice.

And FYI, it’s pah-CAHN not PEE-can. 😉