French Toast Bread Pudding From Animal Kingdom Lodge Recipe 455

Steps:

• Cut the bread lengthwise into 1-inch-thick strips, cutting as far down through the loaf as you can without cutting all the way through. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and cut 1-inch strips in the other direction, without cutting all the way through. Put the loaf into a 1 1/2-quart oval baking dish.
• Whisk the milk, brown sugar, cinnamon and eggs in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure it gets in all the crevices. Stuff the chocolate pieces in between the rows. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Uncover the bread and drizzle with the butter. Put the baking dish in a larger baking dish and pour hot water into the larger dish until it comes 1 inch up the sides of the smaller dish. Bake until the eggs mixture is completely cooked and the top of the bread is dark golden brown and crispy, 60 to 65 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve with maple syrup on the side for dipping.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange the bread in two layers in a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish, cutting the bread to fit the dish. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the bread down. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
• Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting it so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make two slashes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• With a small sieve, dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve hot in squares with maple syrup on the side.

Steps:

• Butter 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Place bread in dish.
• Whisk eggs and next 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend; pour over bread.
• Using spatula, lightly press down on bread to moisten completely.
• Cover with foil and chill overnight.
• Place foil-covered dish in cold oven.
• Set oven at 350°F and bake 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and continue to bake until pudding is puffed and golden brown, about 35 minutes longer.
• Spoon pudding onto plates, sprinkle with toasted nuts, and serve with warm maple syrup.