Sweet Potato, Apple & Cranberry Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Sweet Harold requested this bread pudding for his birthday BREAKFAST a few days ago.  While certainly a rich and decadent treat for a brunch, the flavors and textures here would be an elegant dessert as well.

2 eggs 1 1/2  cups cooked mashed sweet potato [can substitute cooked butternut or acorn squash or pumpkin] 2 cups scalded milk  ¼ cup butter, cubed 2/3 cup sugar ¼ t. salt 1 t. ground cinnamon ½ t. ground nutmeg 1 t. pure vanilla extract 4 ½ to 5 cups soft bread cubes, such as brioche (about 9 slices) 2/3 cup dried cranberries 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored, cut into ½” dice Cinnamon Caramel Sauce 1 ½ cups sugar 1/3 cup water 1 ¼ cups heavy cream ½ t. pure vanilla extract  1 t. ground cinnamon

Bread Pudding: Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs; add mashed sweet potato and mix well.  Combine milk and butter; add to eggs along with sugar, spices and vanilla.  Add bread cubes, dried cranberries and diced apples; stir gently.

Pour into a well-greased 11 x 7 baking dish.  Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean.

Cinnamon Caramel Sauce: While pudding is baking, prepare sauce.  Mix the water and sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Do not stir.  Increase the heat to medium and boil uncovered until the sugar turns a warm chestnut brown (about 350 degrees F on a candy thermometer), about 5 to 7 minutes, gently swirling the pan to stir the mixture. ***Use caution as the mixture is extremely hot!*** Watch the mixture very carefully at the end, as it will go from caramel to burnt very quickly.  Turn off the heat.  Stand back to avoid splattering and slowly add the cream and vanilla.  Use caution as the cream will bubble violently and the caramel will solidify.

Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes.  Add cinnamon and whisk until well combined.

Cut pudding into serving-sized pieces and drizzle warm cinnamon caramel sauce over pudding.  If desired, top with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

From www.cooking.com