Okay, here’s my blog post about making focaccia bread pudding, written in a casual, conversational style, just like the example you provided:
So, I had this leftover focaccia, right? It was a couple of days old, getting a bit hard, and I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it out. I hate wasting food! I was thinking, “What can I do with this?” Then it hit me – bread pudding! I’d never made it with focaccia before, but hey, why not? Bread is bread, am I right?
Getting Started
First, I grabbed the focaccia and tore it into big, chunky pieces. I didn’t want them too small, because I wanted some texture in the final pudding. I spread the pieces out on a baking sheet.
Then, I whisked together some eggs, milk, a little bit of cream (because why not indulge?), some sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract. I didn’t measure anything precisely – just eyeballed it. It’s bread pudding, not rocket science!
Putting It All Together
I poured the custard mixture over the focaccia pieces, making sure everything was nicely soaked. I pressed down on the bread a bit with a spatula to help it absorb the liquid.
At that point, I figured a little extra flavor wouldn’t hurt. I chopped up some apples I had lying around and tossed them in with the bread. I also sprinkled in some cinnamon and a handful of raisins. You could totally add other stuff here – nuts, dried cranberries, chocolate chips… whatever you like!
Bake and Enjoy!
I covered the baking dish with foil and popped it into a preheated oven at around 350°F (175°C). I baked it for about 30 minutes, then removed the foil and baked it for another 15-20 minutes, until it was golden brown and the custard was set. It is important to keep checking it, not let it stay for too long.
- Grabbed a knife and checked the inside to make sure that it was not liquid.
- Then, took the focaccia bread pudding out and placed it on a cooling rack.
Let me tell you, the smell was amazing! It was all warm and cinnamon-y and apple-y. I let it cool for a bit (because I didn’t want to burn my mouth), then dug in. It was seriously good! The focaccia gave it a slightly savory edge, which I loved. It was soft and custardy in the middle, with nice crispy bits on top.
So yeah, that’s how I turned leftover focaccia into a delicious dessert. It was super easy, and I felt pretty good about not letting that bread go to waste. Definitely give it a try if you have some focaccia hanging around!
