Gooey, moist and loaded with cocoa and dry fruits, this Maltese bread pudding had got a very festive feel to it. And that is what makes it a perfect dessert for a Christmas dinner.
Tear up the bread into small pieces and soak them in water for 30 mins. Drain and squeeze out all the water and mash it up in a big bowl.
Add sugar, cornflour, custard powder, cocoa, cherries, sultanas, cashews, almonds, whisky/sherry and vanilla essence to the bowl (keep aside some of the cherries and dry fruits for decorating) containing the bread.
Break the egg into the bowl. Mix up everything.
Pre-heat an oven to 180 degrees celcius for 10 mins.
Pour the pudding mixture into a baking tray. Decorate with cherries and dry fruits.
Place in the center of the oven and bake for 34-45 mins or till a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool down. Cut into generous pieces and serve.
Notes
Soak the bread for sufficient time else the pudding tends to crack up due to lack of mositure .