Healthy Breakfast Bread Custard

healthy, warm, filling...creamy, sweet, delicious.

protein, calcium and fiber that tastes like 

dessert for breakfast...

or is it breakfast for dessert?...

you can serve this as a guilt-free dessert on a sunday evening.

then..reheat for a quick healthy breakfast treat throughout the week with vanilla greek yogurt and fresh berries.

straight out of the oven, it's soft and custardy. add a few extra mini chips or shave some dark chocolate on before serving to make it look like more of a dessert.  on it's own it's fabulous, but you could  dress it up a bit... top with lite whipped cream, a slight drizzle of chocolate syrup or sugar free maple syrup...add some toasted almonds or pecans for a little texture?...fresh berries and some creme anglais...?

it's also great the next day, slightly warmed  or even right out of the fridge.  for a "get-up-and-go" breakfast i like to cut it into squares and layer it with yogurt and berries... drizzle with a little maple syrup in your favorite sturdy glass and your out the door in minutes with a satisfying meal to start your day.

HEALTHY BREAKFAST BREAD CUSTARD

8 - 10 slices whole wheat bread cut in 1 inch cubes (stale or slightly toasted)

i used Weight Watchers (45 cal.slice)

after the crust was cut off it weighed the same as 8 slices

1 cup whole milk

1 cup non fat milk

4 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp maple extract

1/3 cup granulated Z Sweet, Erythritol or another sugar substitute

1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, optional

i like to use Jay Robb Vanilla Whey Powder

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp ground ginger

a dash of cardamom...or more if you like, optional

a few grates of fresh nutmeg

14 grams mini chocolate chips

more chips if you like but i wanted to keep it healthier

preheat oven to 350 F degrees

this cooks in a bain marie (water bath) so heat some water on the stove and put a larger baking dish in the oven to prepare for the bain marie.

dry out your bread on a rack for a few minutes while preheating...not toasted, just a little dried.  then cube bread in approximate 1 inch squares...set aside.

in a large bowl whisk eggs and extracts...then add milks and whisk...just blend, not foamy.

in a small bowl whisk together the dry...protein powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom and sugar substitute.  this will prevent potein powder and spices from clumping.

slowly whisk dry into wet.  incorporate well.

add bread cubes and fold or gently stir so that everything is coated and cubes are absorbing liquid...let sit for a few minutes and stir again...soaking is good if you have the time.

spray an 8 inch baking dish and pour mixture in...evenly distribute cubes in dish.

sprinkle mini chips evenly and poke a few down in mixture.  you'll be surprised how much that measly 14 grams of chips will cover.

bake for 35 - 40 minutes in the bain marie or until a knife is inserted and comes out clean with no moisture or leakage at the cut.

approx. NUTRITIONAL FACTS

for 8 servings

122 cals

13.5 carbs

10.5 protein

4.5 fats

3.2 fiber

3.6 sugars