Saturday, September 3, 2011

Esther's Crockpot Adventures - Jack Daniel's Bread Pudding

What do you do with leftover hot dog and hamburger buns?  I have found that turning them into bread pudding is one of the best uses for these leftovers.  They are too cheap to put in the freezer and take up to much space. I would rather fill my freezer with inexpensive meats.  A couple weeks ago we had the soccer team over after a tournament and I found myself with 2 bags of uneaten hot dog buns.  Today's temp is a balmy 95 so I would rather not turn on the oven.  And yet I need to use up these buns.  So I am trying my favorite recipe in the crockpot.

Recipe: Jack Daniel's Bread Pudding

6-7 cups of torn hot dog or hamburger buns (let stale overnight if possible.  A couple hours is fine too.)
1 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)

4 eggs
2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp Vanilla (http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysdoublestrengthvanilla.html)
2 tsp Cinnamon (http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvietnamesecinnamon.html)

Spray crock with non stick cooking spray.  Add stale buns, raisins and almonds.  For a Jack Daniel's infused flavoring, soak the raisins in some Jack Daniels while the bread is drying out.  My kids don't like it but my husband and I love it!  Mix together the eggs, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. (This is one of those times I really swear Penzeys makes this better!) Add the egg mixture in with the bread and gently stir through the bread until it is mostly absorbed.  Cook on low for 3 hours.* When a knife comes out clean top with Jack Daniel's sauce.

*A word about cooking bread in slow cookers. Do not open the lid to check on the progress.  This will add lots of time to your cooking.  Learned this the hard way so trust me.  Let 3 hours lapse then do knife check.

Jack Daniel's Sauce:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
pinch of salt
1/4 cup Jack Daniels (or rum, amaretto)

In a saucepan melt butter and brown sugar and salt.  Over low heat gradually add whipping cream.  Once this is nice and thick add Jack Daniels. Bring to a boil, but be careful it doesn't bubble over. After a minute turn off heat and let stand.  Pour this over bread pudding in crock.  Delicious.  Serve warm with cool whip.

Rating: This one easily gets 5 stars!

Source: The inspiration for this recipe came from Eastside Marios Restaurant. This is just my favorite restaurant. I always have to save room for their delightful Jack Daniel's bread pudding.  A few years ago I started to perfect this recipe at home.  Now I have transitioned this one successfully to the crockpot. This makes me happy.