Apple-cheddar Bread Pudding

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 14 slices firm bread
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 lbs granny smith apples
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 ounces coarsely grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 large eggs
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 spread bread slices thinly on 1 side with 1/2 stick butter.
• 3 in a small bowl stir together 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and sprinkle evenly over buttered sides of bread.
• 4 arrange bread, buttered sides up, on baking sheets and toast in batches in middle of oven until just golden, about 15 minutes.
• 5 cool cinnamon toast on racks and quarter each slice into triangles, reserving 24 triangles.
• 6 peel, quarter, and core apples.
• 7 cut apples lengthwise into thin slices and in a bowl toss with lemon juice.
• 8 in a large heavy skillet melt remaining 1/2 stick butter with brown sugar over moderately high heat, stirring, and add apples and water.
• 9 cook mixture, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
• 10 remove lid and cook apples until just tender and most liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes more.
• 11 butter a 9-cup oval gratin dish or a 13- by 9- by 2-inch shallow baking dish (about 3 quarts).
• 12 arrange one layer of cinnamon toasts in dish, breaking triangles to fit.
• 13 spoon half of apple mixture evenly over toasts and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup cheddar.
• 14 top with another layer of cinnamon toasts and remaining apple mixture.
• 15 arrange reserved cinnamon toast, sugared sides up, overlapping slightly, in a ring around edge of dish.
• 16 in a bowl whisk together eggs, remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, milk, and salt and pour slowly and evenly over apples.
• 17 chill pudding, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• 18 bake pudding in middle of oven 30 minutes.
• 19 sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar evenly over top and bake pudding 15 minutes more.