APPLE- CARAMEL BREAD PUDDING

Apple- Caramel Bread Pudding image

This recipe is from the www.rightathome.com website. "This melt-in-your-mouth bread pudding, laced with caramel and layered with apples, can be made with any type of day-old bread."

Provided by senseicheryl

Categories Dessert

Time 1h25m

Yield 1 1/2 quart dish, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

1/4 cup unsalted butter
6 apples (Golden Delicious, McIntosh or Winesap apples, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, peeled, halved and cor)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed, divided
1/2 cup dried cherries or 1/2 cup dried currant
4 cups brioche bread (cut or torn into 1 to 2 inch pieces) or 4 cups stale croissants (cut or torn into 1 to 2 inch pieces)
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
2 cups milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Steps:

Place the baking rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 degrees F.
Butter a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish (11 by 7 by 1 1/2 inches), or spray generously with cooking spray.
Cut the apples into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a large bowl, mix together apples, lemon juice and cinnamon. Set aside.
Melt the 1/4 cup of butter and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a 10- to 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the apple mixture using a wooden or heat-resistant spatula and cook over same medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the apples are softened and begin to turn golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the walnuts or dried fruit and transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Set aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
While the caramelized apple mixture is cooling, toast the bread on a baking sheet in the oven until crisp and the edges are just starting to color, about 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside on baking rack.
Once the caramelized apple mixture is slightly cooled, gently and evenly spread half into the buttered baking dish. Add the toasted bread to the remaining apples in the bowl and stir to combine; then spoon the mixture into the baking dish.
In a medium bowl combine the eggs, egg yolks, milk, remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar, vanilla and nutmeg and whisk until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Then pour evenly over the apple and bread mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes until the bread has absorbed the liquid.
Bake until puffed and browned on the top and the custard is set, about 45 to 55 minutes. Serve hot, warm or chilled.