PUMPKIN CARAMEL BREAD PUDDING

Pumpkin Caramel Bread Pudding image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 1h40m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups whole milk
4 large eggs plus 6 large yolks
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 cups stale cubed challah (about one 1-pound loaf, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes; see Cook's Note)
1/2 cup raw pecan pieces
Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Stir together the sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan until the consistency resembles wet sand. Brush down any sugar crystals from the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush. Cook, undisturbed, over medium-high heat until the sugar melts and turns a dark amber, 8 to 11 minutes. Do not stir during this time but once it starts to turn caramel, you can swirl the pan to distribute the color.
While the caramel cooks, bring the heavy cream to a low simmer in a small saucepan. Once the caramel is dark amber, carefully whisk in the warm cream. The cream will bubble up. Add the butter and salt, whisk until smooth, then remove from the heat and set aside.
Whisk together the milk, eggs, yolks, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Carefully whisk in 1/3 of the warm caramel sauce until fully incorporated, then whisk in the remaining caramel sauce. Set aside.
Toss together the stale bread cubes and the pecans in the prepared baking dish, then arrange them in an even layer. Pour the caramel pumpkin custard over the top. Cover and let soak 30 minutes in the refrigerator, pushing down the bread occasionally to submerge it.
Bake until the custard has set and the top is a nice golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving with whipped cream or ice cream.