This recipe is a mix of several bread pudding recipes to make the perfect pudding for my husband. The original recipes are at the bottom.

1 loaf challah (or equivalent)
Banana Foster Sauce (see below)
1 each vanilla bean split or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint heavy cream
3 each egg yolks
1 cups sugar

Preheat oven to 375 deg. Cut bread into ¾ inch cubes and place on a sheet pan and put in the oven until dried out and not quite toasted. It should take 10 to 15 minutes but watch closely. Transfer bread to a half pan and fold in Banana Carmel Sauce until bread is well coated.

Heat up the cream and the vanilla bean on the stove until it almost starts to boil. Meanwhile combine the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk well. When the creams reaches the almost boiling point, turn off and remove the pot from the flame. Temper the yolks, by ladling a small amount of cream to the bowl and mixing well. Then add the yolk sugar mixure to the cream, whisk well so that it does not curdle. Place over a low flame for 2 minutes whisking until it starts to thicken. Strain and allow to cool at room temperature.

Pour Custard mix on top of the bread and make sure all of the bread is saturated. Bake at 375° for approximately 35-40 minutes or until bread pudding reaches 180°.

NOTE: It took almost an hour for the custard to be cooked. Optional to use a bain-marie, not sure what I'd use that's big enough when using a half-pan so I don't.

NOTE: I halved the custard because it always is too much. Don't use the leftover custard by itself; it won't set right without the bread.

 

BANANA FOSTER SAUCE

4 oz sugar
4 oz brown sugar
4 oz corn syrup
4 oz unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup spiced rum
1 cup banana slices

Combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and half of heavy cream in a large pan. Bring to a boil and slowly add remaining heavy cream keeping mixture at a steady boil. Add spiced rum and flambe. Candy will brown slightly; cook 3 minutes until candy forms into a firm ball in cold water. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add sliced bananas. Serve warm.

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