Apple Bread Pudding

I'll use any excuse to make bread pudding.  It is simple, homey, and full of custardy-goodness.  You can enjoy it warm, cold, a la mode, or au natural.  The flavor combinations are endless, but today's recipe features a festive mix of apples, raisins, pecans, and warm spices. 

I don't know about you, but we have had a remarkably cold November.  Some Apple bread pudding was just what we needed to take the chill off, and as an added benefit, it makes the house smell AMAZING!

Apple Bread Pudding

3 apples, peeled and chopped

4-5 cups soft cubed bread

1/3 cup raisins

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1 3/4 c. milk or almond milk

1/4 c. melted butter (or other fat)

1 c. brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 dash each ground nutmeg and ginger

3 dashes ground allspice

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.  Combine apples, bread cubes, raisins, and chopped pecans in a large mixing bowl.  In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients.  Pour wet mixture over bread cube mixture and toss to coat.  Pour evenly into prepared baking dish.  Bake at 350*F for 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.  It's that easy!