Comfort food. We love it. It’s inviting, it’s familiar, it’s warm – like the texture of a favorite, soft blanket or that feeling that washes over you when you hear an old, nostalgic song playing on the radio. It’s like a place to which you long to return, that one place that helps you, even if just for a moment, forget the grind of daily life or the burdens that weigh you down. It’s like a cup of hot coffee and a long conversation with an old friend who has known you forever. Comfort food both grounds us and lifts us up, reminding us of where we’ve been and where we hope to be.
I was delighted to be asked to partner with REAL® Seal to create a comfort food recipe using REAL® Seal dairy products. I remember seeing the red REAL® Seal on cartons on milk and other items in the dairy case all throughout my life, from early childhood until today. The REAL® Seal was created by America’s Dairy Farmers over 30 years ago to set their products apart. Dairy products bearing a REAL® Seal have met very specific guidelines and have been certified to ensure that they meet the required standards and contain no imported, imitation, or substitute milk or dairy ingredients. The REAL® Seal is our way of knowing that what we are buying is made entirely with the wholesome goodness of U.S.-produced cow’s milk.
I made this Butterscotch Bread Pudding with a simple custard base made with REAL® Seal milk as well as some whipped REAL® Seal heavy cream, lightly sweetened, for the topping. This recipe is pure fall comfort food. It also happens to be my absolute favorite bread pudding recipe that I’ve been making for years. It’s a bit of a crime that I haven’t posted it on the blog for you all to enjoy until now. It’s easy to prepare and has all the cozy, warm elements you’re looking for in a comforting fall dessert. It’s a dish that speaks love and wholesome, homemade hospitality with every bite.
For more about REAL® Seal, be sure to check out their Facebook Page.
Butterscotch Bread Pudding
Bread pudding made with butterscotch chips and brown sugar, served warm with lightly sweetened whipped cream on top. Adapted from [Allrecipes|http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Butterscotch-Bread-Pudding/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=butterscotch%20bread%20pudding&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page]
Yields: 8-10 servings
- 1 loaf day-old Italian or French Bread (about a 10-12 ounce loaf)
- 4 cups milk
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- For Serving:
- Lightly sweetened whipped cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and add it to a large bowl.
To a blender, add the milk, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, melted butter, and salt. Whirl until smooth and well-combined. Pour the custard mixture over the bread and stir gently to make sure all the bread is coated. Add 1/2 cup of the butterscotch chips and stir gently. Pour the mixture into the prepared 9x13 dish. Sprinkle the remaining chips over top of the bread pudding. Bake 1 hour, until golden brown and puffed up (it should jiggle when you touch it in the center).
Slice while warm into squares and serve with whipped cream on top. Leftovers should be covered and refrigerated.
This post was sponsored by REAL® Seal, but all opinions expressed are my own.