Pear bread pudding

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp. unsalted butter
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs
5 slices soft, whole-wheat bread, each cut in half
2 pears, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 pound thinly sliced cheddar (optional)

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter a 9-inch square pan. In a saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, butter, and salt until small bubbles form.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, then add the warm milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly.

Layer the square pan with the bread. Top with the pears. Pour the milk-egg mixture into the baking pan and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Top with the cheddar, if desired, and bake until the cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Serves 4