#TuranoHack Spiced Apple Bread Pudding

Create a gourmet dessert from frugal ingredients available at Aldi stores.

There are many who are tempted to turn their noses up at shopping discount markets. However, I want to prove to you that a few simple and very budget-friendly ingredients can be transformed into dishes any foodie would LOVE! This spiced apple bread pudding is one of my three delicious recipes using just one loaf of Pane Turano (which costs only $3.75 at my local Aldi store) as the key ingredient.

Let’s Get Started!

Here’s all you’ll need to make an 8×8 inch pan of spiced apple bread pudding (feel free to double this for a crowd):

• 4 inner slices of Pane Turano (save the ends and smaller slices for a Savory Bread Pudding)
• 4-5 apples (peeled and sliced thin)
• 8 eggs
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1/3 cup of sugar (or sweetener of choice to taste)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• butter to grease the pan

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease your baking pan. I used an 8×8 inch Pyrex dish.

Putting it All Together

Cut the Pane Turano slices into four 2″ strips and then each of those strips in half. I did this so that all of the crust was at the top of my bread pudding (visually appealing).

You’re going to layer the bread and the apples into the baking dish. The easiest way to accomplish this is to place your bread slices in and then feed the apple slices in between the bread layers.

Now mix the custard and pour over the layered baking dish.

Allow the custard to soak into the bread for 5-10 minutes and then place in the oven to bake for 50-60 minutes (until custard is set).

While the bread pudding bakes, let’s make a cinnamon butterscotch (caramel) sauce. You’ll want to add it to your coffee. Or add it to a piece of toast. Or eat it by the spoonful. You get the picture. It is G.O.O.D. I love the caramel and apple combination.

Have you ever made your own butterscotch sauce? It’s surprisingly easy. Don’t hate me when you discover it’s too easy, and therefore, will-power challenging. Yes, I’m guilty of indulging. Thankfully, far less often than I used to.

Easy Butterscotch Sauce

Here’s what you need (as written will top an 8×8 pan, double if necessary):

• 4 tablespoons (tbs) of butter, plus 1 tbs to add at the end
• 1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar
• 1-2 tbs corn syrup (an Alton Brown tip to avoid crystallization, his fudge recipe is divine!)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• a pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream

Place 4 tbs butter, the brown sugar, corn syrup , cinnamon, and salt into a small sauce pan and mix over a medium heat until all of the sugar is dissolved.

Bring the mixture to a boil (don’t be tempted to turn the heat up, just let it take it’s time) and then turn down to a medium/low heat and allow to boil for 2 minutes, being careful not to let it burn.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and heavy cream. It will spit and sputter, just stir carefully. Return it to the heat and cook for anther minute. Turn off the heat and stir in the reserved tablespoon of butter. This will make it silky smooth. Set aside while the bread pudding finishes cooking.

Once the bread pudding is done and removed from the oven, pour the butterscotch goodness all over the top!

Serve once it has cooled enough to not burn the roof of your mouth (around 30 minutes or so).

I’m entering this recipe into Turano’s #TuranoHack sweepstakes. Be sure to check it out and go experiment in your kitchen! This doesn’t look like no-frills food, does it? I’m also linking up at Weekend Potluck, check it out!

What is your favorite version of bread pudding?