Looking for something warm, sweet, and satisfying to end your meal? "Instant" bread pudding goes from inspiration to "Ahhh..." in just 5 minutes.
Put the bread in a fairly shallow, single-serving, microwave-safe bowl.
Whisk together the egg, milk, vanilla, and sugar. Pour over the bread in the bowl, stirring gently to combine.
Stir in chips or dried fruit. And/or sprinkle with cinnamon, cinnamon sugar, or nutmeg.
Microwave for 1 minute, uncovered. Check and see if it's still liquid. If it is, microwave in 30-second bursts, till pudding is cooked all the way to the center; the very center can still look a bit uncooked, but it shouldn't be liquid.
Remove from the microwave. If desired, drizzle with maple syrup or melted caramel or fudge sauce or... Serve warm; whipped cream or ice cream are always welcome.
Why the range in volume for the chips? Use more for an assertive hit of chocolate in every bite; use fewer if you want other flavors, rather than chocolate, to take center stage.
