🍞 Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding with Warm Vanilla Sauce 🍮  
Savor the taste of comforting nostalgia—perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights in!  

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️  

For the Bread Pudding:  
- 2 cups milk  
- 1 cup sugar  
- 4 cups (8 slices) cubed white bread  
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten  
- 1 cup raisins (optional, for sweetness and texture)  
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract  
- 1/4 cup butter  
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg  

For the Vanilla Sauce:  
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar  
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream  
- 1/2 cup sugar  
- 1/4 cup butter  
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract  

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳  

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 1.5-quart casserole dish or baking dish.  
2. Add cubed white bread and raisins to a large bowl. If you’re skipping the raisins, no worries—it’ll still be delicious!  
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together milk and butter until the butter fully melts. This should take around 4-7 minutes.  
4. Pour the warm milk mixture over the bread cubes and let everything soak for 10 minutes. This gives the bread time to absorb all the yumminess.  
5. Once soaked, stir in sugar, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg until fully combined.  
6. Pour the mixture into your prepared casserole dish and bake for 40-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  

For the Vanilla Sauce:  
7. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and heavy cream, stirring constantly.  
8. Once the mixture thickens and starts boiling (about 5-8 minutes), remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.  
9. Serve the bread pudding warm, drizzled generously with the luscious vanilla sauce.  

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎  
- Calories: Approximately 320 per serving  
- Carbohydrates: 42g  
- Protein: 6g  
- Fats: 14g  
- Sugars: 26g  

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡  
- Use day-old bread—it absorbs the milk mixture better and ensures the perfect texture.  
- If you want to switch things up, try adding chopped nuts or a pinch of cinnamon.  
- The sauce can be made ahead of time and gently reheated before serving.  

⏳ Preparation time 🍰  
Preparation time: 15 minutes | Cooking time: 50 minutes | Servings: 6-8  

Enjoy this timeless treat—it’s love in every bite!