A Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Dessert Cookbook (1968)

About the Recipe

The other day, I got some dinner rolls from the grocery store for free. It was one of those specials – buy some meat and we’ll give you the sides! So I bought the meat. And I got the sides. But we don’t really do dinner rolls in my house. So I asked the internet – what should I make?

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The answer was resoundingly bread pudding! So then I asked again – which bread pudding?

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And the internet picked… Raisin-Meringue! Reader – it’s delicious. Some quick notes to help you make a successful bread pudding:

1. I used a little more bread than the recipe called for. Probably closer to 3 cups, rather than just 2. It was necessary.
2. This is so so raisiny. Now don’t get me wrong, I love raisins. But even for a raisin-lover like me, this was a bit much. I’d cut it down to a cup and a half of raisins, and you’ll still be fine.
3. Separate your eggs when they’re cold, and let the whites come to room temp for the best, most-fluffy meringue. I separated them when I was ready for the yolks, and about 10 minutes out from the pudding being done I whipped up the whites. That worked well.
4. No one ever was sorry that they added too much orange zest to a meringue.

Enjoy!

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The Recipe!

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 cups (+ see note) 1-inch day-old bread cubes
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 t salt
2 T melted butter or margarine
1 t vanilla
2 beaten egg yolks
2 cups seedless raisins, dark or light
* * *
2 egg whites
3 T granulated sugar
3/4 t grated orange peel

Directions:

Pour milk over bread cubes. Add next 6 ingredients; toss lightly to blend. Spread in greased 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Set dish in shallow pan on oven rack. Pour hot water around dish 1 inch deep.

Bake in moderate oven (350*F) 50 minutes. Remove from oven; spread with Orange Meringue. Then bake 10 minutes longer, or till meringue is lightly browned. Makes 8 servings.

Orange Meringue: Beat egg whites till fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar; beat till soft peaks form. Fold in grated orange peel. Spread on baked pudding.