Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bread Pudding (Printable version)

Golden bread pudding with caramel cream cheese, spiced apples, and rich custard—a comforting dessert ideal for autumn evenings.

# Ingredient list:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 6 cups brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1/2 cup caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 4 large eggs

→ Fruit

07 - 2 medium apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and diced

→ Sweeteners

08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar

→ Spices & Flavorings

10 - 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
11 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
12 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with caramel sauce until smooth. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Mix until well combined.
03 - Whisk eggs into the cream cheese mixture, then gradually add milk and heavy cream while whisking continuously until custard reaches smooth consistency.
04 - Add bread cubes and diced apples to custard mixture. Gently fold until all pieces are well coated. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
05 - Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Drizzle additional caramel sauce over top if desired.
06 - Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until custard is set and top is golden brown. A knife inserted in center should come out mostly clean.
07 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough to serve at dinner parties but tastes like the coziest hug you can eat.
  • You get the creaminess of cheesecake, the comfort of bread pudding, and caramel apple magic all in one bite.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 1 hour 10 minutes, so you're not spending your entire afternoon in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip letting the bread soak in the custard for those 10 minutes—it's the difference between bread pudding that's moist throughout and one that's dry in spots.
  • That slightly jiggly center after baking is your friend; it'll continue cooking as it cools and will set up to the perfect creamy texture.
03 -
  • Toast your bread cubes in a low oven for 10 minutes before adding them to the custard—this adds another layer of flavor and helps them maintain their shape better.
  • If you want to add pecans or walnuts, toast them first, then sprinkle them on top right before baking so they stay crispy instead of getting soggy.
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