Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Bread Pudding

By MTchef

Ingredients

• CARAMEL-PECAN SAUCE:
• Bread Pudding
• 4 large eggs
• 2 * 2 (15-oz.) cans pumpkin
• 1 1/2 * 1 1/2 cups milk $
• 1 * 1 cup half-and-half $
• 1 * 1 cup granulated sugar $
• 1 * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 * 1/2 teaspoon salt $
• 1/2 * 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 * 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 * 1 (12-oz.) French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups)
• 1 * 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 * 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar $
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup butter $
• 1 * 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Stephanie Bywater, Holladay, Utah, Southern Living
• O

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation
1. 1. Prepare Bread Puddings: Whisk together eggs and next 8 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Add bread pieces, stirring to thoroughly coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 8 to 24 hours.
2. 2. Preheat oven to 350°. Spoon bread mixture into 11 (6-oz.) lightly greased ramekins. (Ramekins will be completely full, and mixture will mound slightly.) Place on an aluminum foil-lined jelly-roll pan.
3. 3. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes, shielding with foil after 30 minutes.
4. 4. During last 15 minutes of baking, prepare Caramel-Pecan Sauce: Heat pecans in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
5. 5. Cook brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and pecans.
6. 6. Remove bread puddings from oven; drizzle with Caramel-Pecan Sauce. Bake 5 minutes or until sauce is thoroughly heated and begins to bubble.
7. TRY THIS TWIST
8. One-Dish Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Pudding: Prepare recipe as directed in Step 1. Spoon chilled bread mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake, covered, at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes. Proceed with recipe as directed in Steps 4 through 6.