Special Bread Pudding Recipe

8 slices of day-old bread
100 g/4 oz dried mixed fruit (fruit cake mix)
30 ml/2 tbsp apricot jam (conserve)

10 ml/2 tsp mixed (apple-pie) spice

50 g/2 oz/0.25 cup butter or margarine, melted, plus extra for greasing

75 g/3 oz light brown sugar Caster (superfine) sugar, for sprinkling

Ice cream, to serve

Method:

Break up the bread and place in a bowl. Soak in water for 15 minutes, then squeeze dry with the hands. Return to the bowl and beat with a fork until smooth. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Turn into a greased
1.75 liter/3 pt/7.5 cup baking tin (pan). Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 for about 1.5 hours or until golden and firm. Sprinkle with caster sugar and serve warm with ice cream.