1-First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get everything ready for baking. Then, butter an 8×8 inch baking dish using 1 tablespoon of butter to keep things from sticking. Break the bread into roughly 1-inch cubes and place them in the dish for even cooking.

2-Next, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle it over the bread cubes to add moisture and flavor. In a separate bowl, mix the beaten eggs, milk, white sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until everything blends smoothly. This mixture forms the custard base that makes the pudding so creamy.

3-Combining and Baking Steps: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, making sure all pieces are well coated. Let it sit for a moment so the bread soaks up the goodness. Slide the dish into the oven and bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is firm and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

4-Once baked, enjoy it warm with the optional brown sugar butter sauce. To make the sauce, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce to medium and brown it for a nutty taste. Lower the heat, add brown sugar and milk or cream, whisk for 1-2 minutes, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla before drizzling over the pudding.