Pudding: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix bread and raisins. In a saucepan, heat milk and 1/4 cup butter until the butter melts. Pour this over the bread, letting it stand for 10 minutes.
Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and nutmeg with the bread mixture. Transfer this to a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole dish and bake for 40-50 minutes until the center is set.
Sauce: While the pudding bakes, prepare the sauce. Combine butter, sugar, and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture thickens and reaches a full boil, then remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Serve the warm pudding in individual dishes, topped with the vanilla sauce.
This bread pudding, served with a luscious vanilla sauce, becomes a delightful dish that no one can resist. It’s a testament to the simple, yet profound joy of homestyle cooking. Enjoy the comfort and nostalgia of this classic bread pudding recipe.