Spiced Caramel-apple Bread Pudding

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 granny smith apple, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
• 16 ounces italian bread, cut into bite size pieces
• vegetable oil cooking spray
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups 2% low-fat milk
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons butter

Recipe

• 1 saute apple and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a lightly greased skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes or until tender. stir together bread and apple in an 11"x7"-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• 2 whisk together eggs, milk, apple cider, brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; pour over bread mixture in baking dish. cover and chill 1 hour.
• 3 preheat oven to 350. bake bread mixture 45-50 minutes or until top is crisp and golden brown. serve warm with toasted pecan-caramel sauce.
• 4 toasted pecan-caramel sauce: makes 3/4 cup. prep 10 minutes.
• 5 preheat oven to 350. bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8-10 minutes or until toasted and fraqrant.
• 6 sprinkle sugar in an even layer in a small saucepan. stir together syrup and 1/3 cup water, and pour over sugar in saucepan. cook, without stirring, over medium-high heat 12-14 minutes or until is sugar dissolved and mixture is golden. remove from heat. gradually whisk in evaporated milk. (mixture will bubble). stir in butter and toasted pecans.