Apple Bread Pudding with Brown Sugar Sauce

By commercecook

Although this recipe doesn't need a sauce, it does add to the presentation. I served it with powdered sugar on the plate, a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and brown sugar sauce drizzled on top.

Ingredients

• 8 apples peeled and sliced ( I used a mixture of apple types.)
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped - divided
• pinch of salt
• 1 loaf of Challah bread, cut into 1 inch pieces (I used a loaf from Kroger.)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg ( I did not add this.)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 4 whole eggs
• 3 egg yolks
• Brown Butter Sauce: 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar, 1 stick butter and 1/2 cup cream.

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter 8 x 8 inch baking pan. (Originally called for an 8x8 inch springform baking pan)
Toast bread cubes in oven just until slightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Place in a large bowl and set aside.
Melt butter over medium-high heat in large frying pan. Add 1/2 vanilla bean, brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add apples and saute until apples are caramelized and sugar becomes a thick syrup consistency.
Divide into 2 equal parts ( 1/2 for bottom layer, 1/2 to mix into bread mixture.)
Chop apple slicees that go into the bread mixture into small pieces. set aside to cool.
Combine heavy cream, milk, 1/2 vanilla bean, 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks and white sugar.
Remove milk from the heat and slowly temper the egg mixture with the hot milk, whisking as you combine, Whisk in cinnamon and nutmeg (if using.)
Pour liquid over the bread cubes and combine.
Add the chopped apples that were set aside. ( Half of the total apples that were caramelized.)
Let sit for about an hour to allow liquid to soak bread cubes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pour the rest of the apples on the bottom of the baking pan.
Pour batter on top of the apple layer, spreading evenly.
Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. (custard is set and bread is golden brown.)

To Make Brown Sugar Sauce:
Melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat stirring constantly. Bring to a slow boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk cream into sugar mixture a bit at a time. Serve warm over the bread pudding.