Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Break into small pieces and place into an 8-inch square baking pan:
6 slices day-old bread
If you do not have day-old bread, just toast up the bread before breaking up into small pieces. I use more like 8 pieces of bread because I like my bread pudding really bready.
Drizzle over the top of the bread:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Feel free to add more, butter is delicious! The better quality the butter, like Kerrygold, the better the end product!
1/2 cup raisins (if desired, I skip it)
In a medium mixing bowl, combine:
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.