Tuesday, March 3, 2015

GRAPENUT PUDDING- Guest Post

I was working on the blog and an email came in from Carol. When I saw she sent me another recipe to add to the blog I was thrilled!

Thank you so much Carol, I know there are many people who look forward to your guest posts!





                                    GRAPENUT PUDDING


I love baking.

I love baking fancy cookies, pretty pies and beautiful bars...but sometimes?  A back-to-basics, plain, simple, good-to-the-last-spoonful, easy dessert can't be beat.

That's what I call this classic pudding.  For me...it's a serving of hugs in a bowl.

I got this recipe more than 30 years ago from my then mother in law. She had gotten it out of a magazine that one of her customers at the "beauty shop" she worked at gave to her.  What magazine?  Who knows.........I'm just glad she found it and tore the page out.

The beauty of this pudding is its simplicity.  All it is is a basic baked custard with cereal and-if you like (which we do)-fruit added. The combination of all parts makes a whole dish of pure delight.
A plus for me is I have the choice of making it with eggs and whole milk OR with low fat ingredients like egg substitute, and low fat milk. Sure, the full fat version is nice and rich, but the lower fat is creamy and delicious too.  It's nice to have a choice. I've even used sugar substitute in this with very good results.

I always have low fat milk in the house. I don't often buy whole milk-only for certain recipes and then I buy the smallest container I can so that it won't go to waste. This bakes up fine using whatever milk you have on hand.

The original recipe calls for 4 tablespoons of melted butter to mix with the Grapenuts.  I have found that 2 tablespoons does the job just fine.

We love raisins so I always add a heaping 1/2 cup-you can leave them out if you prefer. I would up the cereal amount by 1/4 cup if the raisins are omitted, and add a little more melted butter.  

This mixes up in no time at all, then into the oven it goes.

The pudding itself isn't overly sweet, so that pop of natural sweetness from the raisins really adds a nice touch.  The Grapenuts soften and add their wonderfully unique nutty taste to the mix. It's delicious served warm but is just as tasty cold with-if you wish-a little dollop of fresh whipped cream.  

No whipped cream this time-and we don't miss it at all.  A small serving of this is a real treat.

The pudding in the photo is made with 1% milk and 3/4 c. egg substitute-it's still creamy and delicious.  

This may not be the prettiest dessert, but in my book?  It's the flavor that matters-and that's out-of-this-world. 


Carol


GRAPENUT PUDDING
(Source: adapted from a recipe given to me by my former mother in law, Alma) 

3/4 c. Grapenuts cereal 
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted 
1/2 c. granulated sugar (a sugar substitute can be used with great results) 
3 large eggs, well beaten OR egg substitute to equal 3 eggs 2 c. milk (can use whole milk, low fat or fat free-whatever you have on hand)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt 
1/4-1/2  heaping c. raisins (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. 

In a deep small bowl, combine the cereal with the melted butter, stirring until the butter coats the cereal; set aside. 

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until well mixed.  Whisk in the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until thoroughly combined.  Stir in the cereal and raisins.

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Place the baking dish in a larger pan and add hot water up to the 1" level of the baking dish. 

Bake @ 375 for 30 minutes, Stir the pudding thoroughly, and bake @ 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes more or until a knife inserted 1" from center comes out clean.

Serve the pudding warm or cold. 6-8 servings.




38 comments:

  1. Now this is something I have never heard of. Those older recipes were great. I have so many of them saved. I do like the taste of grapenuts, tho I don't eat them that much. I can just imagine the taste of this pudding. I would probably use the egg substitute and the non fat milk. Thanks for another keeper Carol......it is always great to have you as a guest.

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    1. Hi Myra-I agree-those older recipes are the best! This pudding is SOOOO good-nothing fancy but that's OK by me----imagine custard pie with a layer of Grapenuts and some raisins....MMMMM good. Oh and that dish is Bob's grandmother's. His Mom gave us the set when they cleaned out her mother's house. I treasure it-and love photographing special desserts in those dessert dishes. Not to mention....whatever is in that dish tastes SO much better because it's just so darned pretty. :)

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  2. I wanted to add, that the way you served this in the picture, is perfect. Makes me feel like I am way back in the 50's.

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  3. I think this would go over very well in my house. It looks delicious and of course, your presentation is spot on, Carol. Just need to add Grapenuts to the list and will give it a whirl. Thanks, Carol!

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    1. Angela, you can't go wrong with this one, I promise. Sometimes simple is the best. It's easy to put together and delicious either warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cold with whipped cream....OR it's good just the way it is. I always double the recipe because we love it so much.

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  4. I have always wanted to try cooking with GrapeNuts. This looks great, I'll have to pick up some cereal when it is on sale.

    Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays. I hope you'll be back next week.

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    1. Thank you Audrey....isn't the price of cereal ridiculous? I wait for sales too.....it's the only way to shop these days. I hope you enjoy this if you give it a try. We sure do. :)

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  5. This one I will try for sure. But I need to get the Grape Nut Cereal first. I'm out of Raisins to. Thank you Carol for sending this to Linda and for the share. Hugs

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    1. Hi Dottiemaye-this is a good one and tastes great with sugar substitute.....I've had real good luck using it. I hope you like it! :)

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  6. Taste is important. Looks are a bonus. This photographed beautifully Carol. The price of cereal is ridiculous & the boxes are getting smaller. The funny thing is, is that grape nuts always came in a small box. I need to try this

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    1. This is a great one Cyndy....easy and really yummy. I think you'd like it a lot. :)

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  8. What a deliciously wholesome pudding! I didn't realise you could use GrapeNuts in cooking like this! Thank you, Linda - and Carol - for sharing this recipe with the Hearth and Soul hop. Pinned :-)

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    1. Hi April-this pudding takes Grapenuts to a whole new planet.....it's SO good. One of my family's favorites...has been for years. I hope it becomes a favorite at your house too. :)

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  9. Thank you so much for this recipe! My mother made this often when I was a kid. I had her recipe but lost it in a move. Now, I can make it again. Big hugs!

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    1. Hi Marsha-I'm SO glad you found a recipe to take the place of your Mom's for a dessert she made when you were growing up. I hope it tastes as good as hers and it's everything you remember. :)

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  10. Hi Carol, thanks you for visiting Oh My Heartsie Girl to share your recipe. I have just finished pinning.
    Have a great weekend, hope to see you next week!
    Karren

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  11. Hi Karren-I hope you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try.

    Thank you! :)

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  12. What a great idea -- and so healthy!

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    1. It's SO good....one of our favorites for years. And super easy too. :)

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  13. I have never heard of this! My grandfather is a grape nut junkie. He would love this! Thanks for sharing at the Art of Home-Making Mondays :)

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    1. Hi JES-I hope you AND your grandfather love this pudding as much as we do....homemade custard with Grapenuts and raisins? Doesn't get much better! :)

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  14. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great weekend and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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    1. Thank you Miz Helen-I hope you enjoy this if you give it a try! :)

      Have a super week....

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  15. I'm loving this! You always bring such amazing things to our party. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you tonight at 7 at our party. I can't wait! Lou Lou Girls

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    1. Thanks Kimberly-this is one delicious and easy dessert. Have a helping for me if you give it a go! :)

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  16. This looks wonderful! I never heard of anything like it. Thanks for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday." Hope you can join us again this week. http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2015/03/try-new-recipe-tuesday-march-10.html

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    1. Thanks Lisa....it's easy and delicious....can't get much better than that! :)

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  17. YUM! Can[t wait to try it. I love custard and this combination with crunchy grape nuts sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs
    Jann

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    1. Hi Jann-if you love homemade custard, I think you'll enjoy this. The Grape Nuts soften but give a nice texture and flavor...it's some good stuff! :)

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  18. Sounds yummy to me. The one's which are not real pretty are usually the best tasting! We are so glad you shared with us at Merry Monday! We can’t wait to see your creativity next week!

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    1. You're so right Shirley......taste is what counts first and this one's a winner. I hope you enjoy it if you decide to give it a go!

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  19. Sounds like a nice dessert, I've never heard or seen such one before. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

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    1. Thanks Laura-Grapenuts are a wonderful cereal that are delicious for breakfast either hot OR cold...and perfect added to a baked custard which is what this is. I hope you'll give it a try!

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  20. GrapeNuts always remind me of my grandpa. He loved it and got me hooked on the cereal. Never thought about using GrapeNuts to cook/bake with, but I love the flavor. Thanks for the guest post, Carol and Linda--and for linking up this week.

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    1. They're SO good in this pudding, Michelle.....if you love Grapenuts I bet you'd really enjoy this one.

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  21. I love classic puddings like this, sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This weekend? :)

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    1. I'm with you, Joy-classic puddings are SO good-they never go out of style......

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