Bread pudding

Method
Prep:5min  ›  Cook:1hr  ›  Extra time:1hr cooling  ›  Ready in:2hr5min 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease a baking tin.
2. Tear the bread including crusts and pour over some boiling water (not too much - just enough to soften the bread). Mix with a fork mashing all the lumps. Add the fruit, suet, sugar, mixed spice and orange zest. Mix well. Add the beaten egg. (If the mixture is a little dry add a small quantity of milk). Pour mixture into a greased baking tin and level with a fork.
3. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow the pudding to cool in the tin. Sprinkle with caster sugar. Cut into squares to serve.

Tip

For the dried fruit for this recipe I used mixed fruit with cranberries and apricots.
Use bread that is just a little stale, which will result in a great texture and highly flavourful bread pudding.