🍮Caramel Apple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Cream Drizzle

📝 Ingredients:

For the Bread Pudding:

• 5 cups cubed brioche or challah bread (preferably a day old)
• 2 apples (peeled, cored, diced — use Granny Smith for tartness)
• 3 large eggs
• 1½ cups whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• Pinch of salt

For the Vanilla Cream Drizzle:

• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional Garnish:

• Caramel sauce
• Powdered sugar
• Chopped pecans or walnuts

🔥 Instructions:

🍏 Step 1: Prep the Bread & Apples

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a 9×9 baking dish.
3. Place bread cubes and diced apples in a large bowl. Toss gently.

🥣 Step 2: Make the Custard

1. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until fully combined.
2. Pour this mixture over the bread and apples. Stir gently until all pieces are soaked. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

🔥 Step 3: Bake It

1. Pour everything into the prepared dish and drizzle with melted butter.
2. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
3. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden on top and set in the center.

🍦 Step 4: Make the Vanilla Drizzle

1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine cream, butter, sugar, and vanilla.
2. Stir constantly for 4–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Remove from heat and let cool slightly — it’ll thicken as it cools.

🍮 Step 5: Assemble & Serve

1. Serve the warm bread pudding with a generous spoon of vanilla drizzle, a light caramel drizzle if desired, and a dusting of powdered sugar or nuts.
2. Best eaten warm, maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.