Ingredients:

Pudding:

Bread, cubed; I used a package of 6 soft wheat dinner rolls, and about 6 white dinner rolls (but French bread would probably work well too), mixed into tin foil lined Dutch oven.

1 8-oz. pkg. COLD cream cheese, cut into “cubes” (which is easier said than done)

2 2/3 C. milk

Cut-up fruit such as 3-4 sliced bananas, 1 4-oz. pkg. fresh blueberries or 3 cubed apples

¼ C. chopped pecans (optional)

6 eggs

¼ C. sugar

¼ C. maple syrup

½ t. ground cinnamon

Topping:

¼ C. butter or margarine, softened

¼ C. sugar

3 T. ground cinnamon

¾ C. packed brown sugar

½ C. heavy whipping cream

1. Cube the bread (or rolls) and put in the Dutch oven (I lined mine with aluminum foil for easy clean-up)

2. Sprinkle the cream cheese over the bread pieces.

3. Add fruit.

4. Add nuts (if desired).

5. Mix milk, eggs, sugar, syrup, and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour evenly over the bread, cheese, and fruit.

6. Mix all the topping ingredients in a bowl and pour evenly over the pudding mixture.

7. Bake in covered Dutch oven for about an hour (I had about 8 coals under it and 8 coals on the lid).

8. Bake uncovered for about 15-30 minutes (just so it’s not too runny).

Serve hot, with powdered sugar (if wanted).