Birthday bread pudding...sweetness on the road

We're on the road for my birthday - heading south for a class reunion. There isn't time for a cake so I decided that cupcakes or muffins would be an appropriate treat to celebrate. It's one of those in-between years (I'm 47) so there's no need for a big cake and lots of candles.
Just something sweet to mark the passing of another 365 days.
I'm doing the cooking for the reunion (both veg and non-veg foods, since not everyone yet shares my passion for vegetarian cuisine) and the car is packed with lasagna, pasta alfredo, meatballs, salad, fresh bread, and cream puffs. I have to have some sort of treat on the drive or there will be a few dozen hungry and unhappy guests at the event because I will snack my way through their dinner on the two hour drive.
So, I decided that I should make one of my favorite comfort foods in a muffin form and celebrate on the road. Bread pudding is usually a sloppy, sweet dessert, but as a small cake, it's as perfect for a road trip as it is for a snack on the couch.
Give these a try, you'll love them.
Bread Pudding Muffins
7 cups of bread cubes, cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup light cream
1 cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/2 cup raisins
1 small Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl and add the cream and milk. Let the mixture stand for five minutes, then stir in the beaten eggs, sugar, vanilla and butter.
  • In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and lemon zest. Stir this mixture into the bread cube mixture and then fold in the raisins and apple.
  • Evenly divide the mixture among 6 large or 12 regular greased muffin cups.
  • Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack and remove from the tins.
  • For some extra sweetness, dust them with a little powdered sugar once they're cool. Or, if you're feeling a little more like celebrating, mix up a half cup of butter and a few shots of rum and warm it through and pour it over your muffins.

Vegetarian.

 

 

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