French Toast Bread Pudding and a Giveaway

I’m a BIG fan of French toast. It’s just so comforting and delicious. Imagine taking the flavors of French toast and putting them into another comfort food – bread pudding. That’s what this recipe does.

I had the opportunity to go to an event a Panera a couple weeks ago. I got to taste their new steak sandwich and salad. Both were really good. I also had the opportunity to meeet some great people who work at Panera and Childrens Hospital Boston. You might be wondering how the two are related. Well, right now, select Boston area Panera cafes are donating a percentage of the proceeds from the Easter egg cookie sales to Children’s Hospital Boston.

After spending the evening with the folks at Panera, I decided I wanted to try one of their recipes found on myPanera.com. I grabbed a couple French toast bagels to make this bread pudding.

The lovely people at Panera have offered a giveaway so you can head into Panera and get your favorite lunch or try the new steak sandwich. To win the $15 gift certificate, just leave a comment before 12 noon (EST) on Wednesday April 6th letting me know what your go-to Panera order is. I always get the Pick-2 with the Turkey Bravo sandwich and the Ceasar salad. It always hits the spot.

One Year Ago: Homemade “Instant” Pancake Mix and Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos
Two Years Ago: Cinnamon Biscuits

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French Toast Bread Pudding

Yield: 6-8

Ingredients:

2 Panera Bread French Toast Bagels, cut into bite-size pieces
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
4 eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
Grated zest of a 1/2 orange

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ΒΊF. Coat a 2-quart baking dish or eight 6- to 8-ounce ramekins with cooking spray and set the dish or ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Put bagel pieces in baking dish or ramekins in an even layer. If using raisins, scatter on top.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until blended. Whisk in milk, half-and-half, and orange zest.

Pour egg mixture over bagel pieces, then press down with a spatula until completely coated. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, pressing down now and then to saturate bagel pieces.

Put baking sheet with the baking dish or ramekins in the oven, then pour very hot tap water into the baking sheet to about 1/4 inch up the sides of the baking dish or ramekins.

Bake until pudding is just set in the center, 60 to 75 minutes for the baking dish or 35 to 45 minutes for ramekins. Remove and let cool until warm to the touch.

Recipe from Panera Bread

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112 Responses to “Giveaway: Nestle Back-to-School Kit”

  1. #
    1
    A — September 7, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    PB&J for sure!

  2. #
    2
    Jlynch6341 — September 7, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    I loved bread and butter with a glass of cold chocolate milk

  3. #
    3
    mbb216 — September 7, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    Definitely peanut butter cookies and milk!

  4. #
    4
    Cara! — September 7, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    My son loves chocolate chip cookies and milk!

  5. #
    5
    Maegan — September 7, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    My mom always had a piece of cake waiting for us after the first day of school. She was usually a real health nut about our snacks…so cake in the middle of the day…and it wasn’t anyone’s birthday? AWESOME, mom, thanks!

  6. #
    6
    KV — September 7, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    chocolate chip cookies

  7. #
    7
    The Dugan's — September 7, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    Chocolate chip cookies!!

  8. #
    8
    Julie L. — September 7, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    I grew up snacking on (multiple) Little Debbies after school…loved them, but I never learned to appreciate healthful food. My daughter loves “stringy” mozzarella cheese, yogurt or fruit…and of course cookies as a “sometimes” food. πŸ˜‰

  9. #
    9
    Kristen — September 7, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    I loved the Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies!

  10. #
    10
    Arghavan — September 7, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Mini grilled cheese sandwiches (using cocktail bread) were a favorite at my house growing up.

    I give Cameron the same thing. Delicious!

  11. #
    11
    Lauren — September 7, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    My favorite snack was a bowl of Cocoa Krispies…nothing better than sitting in front of the TV watching Saved by the Bell and having cereal πŸ™‚

  12. #
    12
    Kris — September 7, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    My Mom would let us have 2 chocolate chip cookies after school sometimes. My kids aren’t as lucky as I usuually give them pretzel sticks or goldfish crackers.

  13. #
    13
    Tracey Cox — September 7, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    My favorite was m&m’s and mini pretzels. I’m not sure how I discovered this combo, but to this day when I eat the 2 together, I still put my m&m’s in the pretzel holes.

  14. #
    14
    Rebecca — September 7, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    I always liked having those handi-snacks after school. Either the ones with the crackers and cheese of those little breadsticks with cheese. I remember liking the breadsticks one better though. πŸ™‚

  15. #
    15
    Reader — September 7, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    my fave was kit kat bars!

  16. #
    16
    Mary Frances — September 7, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Double stuffed Oreos! My eight-year old self thought they were the greatest thing ever

  17. #
    17
    Julia — September 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Mmm… Little Debbie Swiss cake rolls. Yum!

  18. #
    18
    Eliana — September 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    I loved the lil debbir zebra cakes – YUM!!!

  19. #
    19
    BelleAur — September 7, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Celery and peanut butter, its still a favorite and I give it to my kids now!

  20. #
    20
    Sarah — September 7, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Handisnacks! Well the cheese anyway.

  21. #
    21
    Bonnie — September 7, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Chocolate chip cookies, of course!

  22. #
    22
    Karen - Mommy to four sweeties — September 7, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    For me as a kid it was cookies of any kind.
    My kids love to get a baked treat–brownies, cookies, cupcakes, muffin…yum!

    Karen
    karen0801@aol.com

  23. #
    23
    Amity — September 7, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    One time my mom had warm apple fritters dusted with powdered sugar waiting for us after school. It was a one-off but my favorite snack ever!

  24. #
    24
    kmarkners — September 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    My favorite after school snack was graham crackers with peanut butter and banana. It still is one of my favorites!

  25. #
    25
    Elise — September 7, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    For some reason, I loved to make my own snack. My favorite was a “Big Cheese,” essentially a cheese quesadilla.

  26. #
    26
    Becky — September 7, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    I had Little Debbie Snacks. Don’t really buy them any more!

  27. #
    27
    Sarah Richie — September 7, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Anything from Little Debbie. Especially Fudge Rounds

  28. #
    28
    JulieAnn — September 7, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    We liked graham crackers with chocolate frosting. But now that you posted chocolate chips, I can’t get chocolate chip cookies out of my head!

  29. #
    29
    Kerry — September 7, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    Bread with peanut butter or cookies and milk!

  30. #
    30
    Katherine Martin — September 7, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    ohhh, I liked chips ahoy cookies… warmed up in the microwave!

  31. #
    31
    Joellen — September 7, 2010 at 5:27 pm

    seriously, it was nestle toll house cookies.

  32. #
    32
    kcconfections — September 7, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    sliced apples with peanut butter.

  33. #
    33
    Jennifer — September 7, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Pizza bagels were the most fun afterschool snack, because I would make them with my sisters before our mom got home!

  34. #
    34
    Sarah — September 7, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    A smear of peanut butter on a tortilla, sometimes with a few chocolate chips πŸ˜‰

  35. #
    35
    Cory and Scarlett Bendixen — September 7, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    I loved having my moms home ade frosted sugar cookies when I got home from school

  36. #
    36
    mrsdanigirl8 — September 7, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Favorite after school snack was definitely celery w/ peanut butter!

  37. #
    37
    Sarah — September 7, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies. I know there’s pretty much not one real ingredient in them, but they’re so good.

  38. #
    38
    Teresa — September 7, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    my daughter loves chocolate chip cookies!

  39. #
    39
    Erica — September 7, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    Kraft Mac and Cheese! πŸ™‚

  40. #
    40
    Kate — September 7, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    This is weird, but…. saltine crackers and sliced apples. My mom had me convinced it tasted *just* like apple pie so I happily ate it after school every day for many years. Haha.

  41. #
    41
    Sara — September 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Cute kit! My favorite afterschool snack was homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk.

  42. #
    42
    learningtocookeatandenjoydeliciousfood — September 7, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    I think that my favorite after school snack was when my mom would make a m&m sugar cookies. I absolutely loved chocolate and sugar cookies combined!! yum!! πŸ™‚

  43. #
    43
    Allison — September 7, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    My mom would make hot dogs in a crescent roll. We’d dip them in ketchup and they were soo good! I make them for my kiddos now and they love ’em too!

  44. #
    44
    ellen — September 7, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    cookies of course!

  45. #
    45
    Amy — September 7, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    It wasn’t an every day thing, but sometimes my neighbor’s Mom that watched me after school would make home made caramel apples and I LOVED them! The second I walked in the house, the smell overwhelmed me with excitement πŸ™‚

  46. #
    46
    Jenn @ BentoForKidlet — September 7, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    We always had granola bars as an afterschool snack. Now for my son I always try to fix something different. No cookies tho, those are for dessert πŸ˜€ But his current favorite that he is always asking for are fresh bhajis, and Indian veggie fritter.

  47. #
    47
    Deanna — September 7, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    my favorite after school snack was a bowl of boo berry cereal. I loved it when the milk turned blue, my favorite part of the snack! πŸ™‚

  48. #
    48
    Toby — September 7, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    I loved a bowl of cereal when I got home from school.

  49. #
    49
    whitequiet — September 7, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    I loved a chocolate chip cookie with milk!

  50. #
    50
    Christine — September 7, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    Kraft mac and cheese

  51. #
    51
    Cupcake Activist — September 7, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    My favorite after school snack was a tortilla with butter. Or pieces of bologna. Weird, I know.

  52. #
    52
    Kris @ everywhereorange.com — September 7, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    My favorite after school snack was peanut butter on crackers!

  53. #
    53
    Carly — September 7, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    i had 2 favorite snacks. 1) Nature Valley granola bars with peanut butter 2)snyders pretzels dipped in ketchup

  54. #
    54
    Laura and Alex — September 7, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    Bananas covered in peanut butter and marshmallows pushed into the peanut butter πŸ™‚ yum

  55. #
    55
    Mrs. Walk — September 7, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    My mom made me “apple smiles”! Apple slices with peanut butter spread on them and mini marshmallow “teeth”!

  56. #
    56
    Krystal — September 7, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Little Debbie snack cakes…those were awesome!!

  57. #
    57
    Dream It Up Cookies — September 7, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    A bowl of cereal, Labne(lebanese strained yogurt chees) w/ pita, or fruit.

    I give my son pretty much the same things, he really likes string cheese and real fruit snack size popsicles too.

  58. #
    58
    Jan — September 7, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    milk and homemade cookies

  59. #
    59
    DaniD — September 7, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    My mom used to make us the best banana chocolate chip bread with milk for the first day of school every year. I still make it, its so delicious!

  60. #
    60
    Eva — September 7, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    We didn’t necessarily have a real snack after school, but my mom used to let us have ice pops or other frozen treats!

  61. #
    61
    Linda and Matthew — September 7, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    Chef Boyardee, cold, straight out of the can. It was weird, but delicious!

  62. #
    62
    KaraLee Anderson — September 7, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    I always ate a toasted Pb & J with a tall glass of milk! Mmm… I think I might go get one right now.

  63. #
    63
    Nancy Diane — September 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    After school, I remember coming home to my regular bench at the kitchen counter and my mom inviting me to relax, drink some juice and have something small like a yogurt, or crackers. What I ate doesn’t stand out, but what I will remember is how she always wanted me to be comfortable.

  64. #
    64
    Lauren — September 7, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Cookies and milk, for sure. πŸ™‚

  65. #
    65
    Jason — September 7, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Spaghettios and popcorn. Weird combination, but they went together as far as I was concerned.

  66. #
    66
    Rachel J. — September 7, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    Granny smith apples & pop corn. Sweet & Tart. That is what I had as a kid- and now that is what I pass on to my kid.

  67. #
    67
    Heather — September 7, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Cookies and milk!

  68. #
    68
    Doreen — September 7, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    Junk food all the way! Doritoes…or any other kind of chip.

  69. #
    69
    Jami — September 7, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    I am not making this up, my favorite snack was chocolate chip cookies. My mom was a baker. (that’s where I learned it!) She was always whipping up some cookies or pies for us. On the other hand, I try to have at least one veggie snack on hand for my kids, like sliced peppers or carrots. They get plenty of sweets too, though!

  70. #
    70
    Cathy — September 7, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    I’m kind of embarrassed to say, that my parents would get me us hot dogs from the street vendor everyday after school. I wouldn’t eat it now…but we ate it all the time.

  71. #
    71
    newlywed — September 8, 2010 at 12:04 am

    Occaisonally, my mom made home-made granola bars…as soon as I read your question, that was the first thing I thought of!

  72. #
    72
    Julie Pia — September 8, 2010 at 12:39 am

    No bake cookies were my favorite because I could make them myself. I have such fond memories of whipping these puppies up with my brothers!

  73. #
    73
    Katy — September 8, 2010 at 12:42 am

    We liked homemade popsicles!!

  74. #
    74
    Sarah — September 8, 2010 at 12:50 am

    A bowl of cereal.

  75. #
    75
    Tiffany — September 8, 2010 at 12:58 am

    If I ever had a snack after school it was always fruit.

  76. #
    76
    Erin O. — September 8, 2010 at 1:13 am

    definitely pb&j. yummo!!!

  77. #
    77
    Courtney — September 8, 2010 at 1:15 am

    I know it’s strange, but I used to eat a bowl of black-eyed peas every single day when I got home from school. I was a strange kid haha. I just wish I still craved healthy foods over sweets!

  78. #
    78
    Rhonda — September 8, 2010 at 1:24 am

    peanut butter on vanilla wafers!! Still like them today

    (jrklturner@yahoo.com)

  79. #
    79
    Alexis — September 8, 2010 at 1:24 am

    apples and peanut butter!!!

  80. #
    80
    KC — September 8, 2010 at 1:28 am

    Cookies and milk.

  81. #
    81
    msjones55 — September 8, 2010 at 1:31 am

    Peanut butter and jelly, but the peanut butter had to be extra crunchy!

  82. #
    82
    Carrie77 — September 8, 2010 at 2:40 am

    Chocolate Chip cookies and milk!

  83. #
    83
    Jieun — September 8, 2010 at 3:03 am

    mmm definitely oreos dipped in milk!

  84. #
    84
    Miss Whisk — September 8, 2010 at 3:14 am

    We enjoy making our own snack mix or baking something yummy- muffins or cookies.

  85. #
    85
    Taylor — September 8, 2010 at 3:18 am

    This is embarrassing but I looooved Swiss Cake Rolls dipped in milk…oh they were SO good!

  86. #
    86
    CoCo — September 8, 2010 at 3:50 am

    I always used to eat fruit-grapes, apples or whatever was in season.

  87. #
    87
    Mrs Monkei — September 8, 2010 at 4:55 am

    Home made choc chip cookies! The best.

  88. #
    88
    Kristi — September 8, 2010 at 6:23 am

    Cheese and Crackers! πŸ™‚

  89. #
    89
    Amy K — September 8, 2010 at 11:19 am

    Some kind of ice cream treat or Cracker & Cheddar Combos.

    the.k.krew(at)gmail(dot)com

  90. #
    90
    Ange — September 8, 2010 at 11:23 am

    PB&J with the crusts cut off!

  91. #
    91
    elizabeth — September 8, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Graham crackers with vanilla frosting!

  92. #
    92
    Jenn — September 8, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    Chocolate Chip Cookies!! =)

  93. #
    93
    Sarah B — September 8, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    PB & J!

  94. #
    94
    Sheila — September 8, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    As a kid and now with my kids…Chocolate Chip Cookies.
    I grew up, for the first 11 years of my life, just over one mile from the Original Toll House in Whitman, MA. I always blame my love for them because “it was in the air”.
    I am known for my Chocolate Chip Cookies, because I have literally made thousands of batches:)

  95. #
    95
    Julie — September 8, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    Little Debbie brownies, or peanut butter and honey celery. πŸ™‚

  96. #
    96
    Sarah — September 8, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    I loved celery with cream cheese or peanut butter. I also really loved triscuts with cheese.

  97. #
    97
    Nicole-Lynn — September 8, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    What a generous giveaway! My favorite back to school snack as a kid was bologna and peanut butter… I would not touch it now, and it’s so funny to me that I liked that at one point but it was my favorite snack at the time! πŸ™‚

    Would love to win this giveaway. Nestle Toll House cookies are my favorite. My fiance and I are on a budget saving for our wedding and our first home so we aren’t able to splurge on things like this at the store. Winning would be so fun!

    Seasidesmitten@aol.com

  98. #
    98
    nutmegnanny — September 8, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Well I do not have kids but I’m a nanny for a very lovely 9 year old little girl πŸ™‚ My favorite sweet snack after school was graham crackers with frosting…delicious! The little one I watch is a huge fan of cookies. No matter the type she eats them all πŸ™‚

  99. #
    99
    Katie — September 8, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    I always loved coming home to peanut butter on crackers!

  100. #
    100
    alexandjess — September 8, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    I don’t remember a favorite snack. But my mom had an at-home daycare and I remember loving to drink Kool-Aid.

  101. #
    101
    Joanna — September 8, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    Hi!
    My favorite thing was to ride the bus home with a friend to their house, because they always had the BETTER snacks! My mom didn’t buy anything that was considered “unhealthy,” so when I did go to a friend’s house, I would savor a pop-tart or a rice crispy treat.
    Thanks to my mom’s good – albeit disappointing when I was 6 – example, I pretty much eat healthy now (I’m 30 now), but I will probably always love those! πŸ™‚

  102. #
    102
    becksterslaboratory — September 8, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    My brothers and I would always snack on ice cream sandwiches after school – I miss those days! : )

  103. #
    103
    Kassi — September 8, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    I think it must have been pb&j. Or cookies with milk! Nestle was always my favorite growing up. I know my little sister would absolutely love this kit! I’d have to keep it at my house and she could come make cookies on the weekends! I love it πŸ™‚

  104. #
    104
    jilluk97 — September 8, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    I’m not just saying this…it was definately chocolate chip cookies!!!

  105. #
    105
    Geri — September 8, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    My favorite to give my kids is cookies because it is so rare, so to see their faves light up when they see the warm, chewy cookies…so fun for me!

  106. #
    106
    webmailaddress2 — September 8, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    I loved fruit snacks as a kid, and I still do!

  107. #
    107
    Tiffany Sherman — September 9, 2010 at 12:32 am

    My favorite school snack was home-made rice crispie treats!

  108. #
    108
    Amy and Jeff — September 9, 2010 at 2:18 am

    I think it was probably just a homemade quesadilla. Just a plain flour tortilla with cheddar cheese sliced melted in the microwave!

  109. #
    109
    Nina — September 9, 2010 at 3:30 am

    This is really gross. I would eat raw hotdogs. I would never do that now.

  110. #
    110
    Tiffany — September 9, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    I used to eat Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls for a snack. Surprisingly I was super skinny too.

  111. #
    111
    Sarah — September 9, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Green apple slices with peanut butter. Yum!

  112. #
    112
    Jen — September 13, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    Mini pizzas made from english muffin slices, prego sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Mmm.

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