Cranberry-Molasses Pudding with Vanilla Hard Sauce

My former mother-in-law gave me this recipe decades ago; she got it from a friend in Milwaukee who was a fabulous home cook. This pudding is like a tart molasses-and-cranberry sponge which should be served in a bowl, with copious amounts of hard sauce, and eaten with a spoon. It's a holiday favorite at my house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, and hardly anyone settles for just one serving.

Ingreadient

  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (a heaping tablespoon)
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/3 cup hot water
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries, picked over, washed and drained
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract