Apple Pie Pudding

A delightful twist on classic comfort food, combining the homey feel of bread pudding with the flavors of apple pie.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups bread, cubed (preferably dried out)
• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons additional
• ½ cup raisins

For the Sauce:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Prepare Bread and Apples:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
   • In a large bowl, whisk together yogurt, milk, eggs, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and ½ cup sugar until well combined.
   • Stir in chopped apples and raisins.
   • Gently fold in the bread cubes until they are well coated with the liquid mixture.
   • Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
2. Top with Cinnamon Sugar:
   • Combine 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pudding mixture.
3. Bake:
   • Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the pudding is puffed up and golden brown.
4. Make the Caramel Sauce:
   • While the pudding is baking, prepare the caramel sauce by melting butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.
   • Stir in the heavy cream and brown sugar and bring the mixture to a boil.
   • Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer until it thickens, which should take about 5 minutes.
5. Serve:
   • Once the bread pudding is done, remove it from the oven and pour the warm caramel sauce over the top.
   • For an extra treat, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Pro Tips:

• Drying the Bread: To get the best texture for the pudding, the bread cubes should be dry. Leave them out for a few hours, or toast them lightly in the oven.
• Make-Ahead Option: Assemble the pudding the night before and let it sit in the fridge overnight. The flavors meld together, and it bakes up beautifully in the morning for a hassle-free breakfast or brunch treat.