Christmas Bread Pudding

 

9 Whole-wheat bread slices

3 Egg yolks — beaten

1 1/2 C. Light cream

1/3 C. Sugar

1 dash Salt

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract

2/3 C. Light raisins

2/3 C. Dark raisins

1/3 C. Candied red cherries — halved

1 C. Water

Sherry sauce ingredients:

2 Eggs — beaten

2 T. Cream sherry

1/4 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 C. Whipping cream

 

Remove crusts from bread; set crusts aside for another use. Cover bread slices with paper towels and let stand overnight. For custard, in heavy med. saucepan combine 3 egg yolks, light cream, sugar and salt. Cook and stir over med. heat. Continue till mixture coats a spoon. Remove from heat; cool at once by placing pan in sink of ice water. Stir for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Cover surface w/plastic wrap. In sm. bowl, combine raisins; set aside. Combine cherries. Pour only 2/3 c warm sherry over raisins; pour remaining sherry over cherries. Fold cut bread (about 9 C.) into custard till coated. Grease a 6 1/2-cup tower mold (without tube). Drain raisins and cherries, reserving sherry. Arrange 1/4 of cherries in bottom of mold; sprinkle 1/3 c raisins into mold. Add 1/4 of bread mixture. Sprinkle with 2 T. reserved sherry. Repeat layers 3 times, arranging cherries and raisins near edges of mold. Lightly press last layer with back of spoon.

Pour remaining sherry over all. Cover mold tightly with foil. Set mold into 3 1/2 or 4 qt. crockpot with liner in place. Pour 1 c water into cooker around mold. Cover; cook on low-heat about 5 1/2 hrs. or high for 3 hrs. or till pudding springs back when touched. Remove mold from crockpot and let stand for 10 minutes. Carefully un-mold onto serving platter. Serve warm with sherry sauce (below).

TO DO AHEAD: Remove from mold, cover and chill. Before serving, return to same mold. Cover with foil, and place in crockpot. Then pour 1 C. of water around mold. Cook in crockpot for 1 1/2 hours (or ’til warm) on high setting. Un-mold and serve warm with sherry sauce. SHERRY SAUCE: In mixing bowl: combine 2 egg yolks, powdered sugar, 2 T sherry and 1/4 t. vanilla. Beat whipping in small mixing bowl till soft peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into egg yolk mixture. Cover and chill till serving time. Serve warm.