CAJUN BREAD PUDDING WITH RUM PRALINE SAUCE
Serves: 12
Ingredients (Pudding):
5 Cups milk, divided
4 Eggs
1 Cup sugar
¼ Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
½ Cup butter, softened
14 Cups day-old French bread (cubed)
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ Cup raisins
1 Cup chopped pecans
Ingredients (Rum Praline Sauce):
⅓ Cup Dark Rum
⅓ Cup packed brown sugar
⅓ Cup corn syrup
½ Cup chopped pecans
½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
4 Tablespoons butter
Pinch of salt
Directions:
In a sauce pan, heat 4 cups of milk until warm, and then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup milk, eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Gradually add warmed milk, stirring constantly.
Stir in butter and bread cubes. Let stand for 10 minutes to let liquid soak in. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins and pecans. Mix gently, and then pour into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish.
Bake at 400˚ F for 40 – 60 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
While the pudding is baking, make praline sauce. Bring Rum to boil in a sauce pan. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add corn syrup and bring back to a boil for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add chopped pecans, vanilla extract, butter and salt.
Cut pudding into squares and drizzle with Rum Praline Sauce. May be topped with prepared whipped cream.