Light Bread Pudding With Chocolate Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
10 or more 1-inch thick slices French bread (crust trimmed)
4 eggs
3/4 c. plus 2 tsp. sugar
4 c. low-fat milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

Generously butter a 6 to 8-cup round souffle dish and set aside.
Spread bread slices with remaining butter on top and place slices in dish.
In a bowl beat eggs and 3/4 cup sugar.
Add milk and mix well.
Add vanilla and nutmeg.
Pour mixture carefully through a strainer into pan with bread.
(Bread will float to the top.)
Put dish in a larger pan.
Add enough hot water to the larger pan to come halfway up side of baking dish.
Place in the center of a preheated 350\u00b0 oven.
Lower heat to 325\u00b0 for 45 minutes or until custard is set.
Sprinkle remaining sugar over top of pudding.
Broil 2 to 4 inches from preheated broiler until sugar melts and edges of bread turn golden brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature with Chocolate Sauce.