I spent 12 days in Ireland several years ago, in late March. Every where we went there was some type of apple dessert..I know cause I ate it whatever it was!!! Pie, cake, baked apples, cobbler.
I have made a bread pudding with that I used cinnamon raisin bread and added diced apples. I have tried several different breads but the two I have liked the best was the cinnamon raisin at Aldie's, and Sunmaid that I found at Kroger's. Sunmaid was the best and I used 2 loaves to make a roasting pan of bread pudding. I always use Granny Smiths. I think I used 4 or 5. I used eggs, half and half, white sugar, vanilla and cinnamon for my custard. I use quite a bit of vanilla, because I think it gives it a great flavor. I mixed the apples through the bread chunks. Grated in some fresh orange peel. Then poured melted butter over the whole thing. It took about 2.5 hours to bake at 350. You will have to cover with foil to keep the top from burning.
Make a caramel butter sauce to go on top. I have used ButterShots, or vanilla with a bit of orange juice, but you could easily substitute whiskey instead. Recipe is after cake recipe.
I made a wonderful apple cake last week that was sooooo easy, and takes about 50 minutes to bake. I will give you the recipe the way I made it...I changed it up some.
Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce.
Grease a 9x13 pan (not glass). Preheat oven to 350.
5 large Granny Smiths - peeled and diced. (recipe called for 6 cups unpeeled apples - 9 medium)( I had 5 in the fridge)
In a separate bowl...
2c flour
1tsp baking powder
about 1/4 tsp salt (recipe called for 1/2 tsp - I rarely use as much salt as recipe )
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (recipe called for 1/2 tsp - not near enough in my opinion)
1/2 tsp ground clove (recipe called for nutmeg)
In large mixing bowl with beaters
1 stick of butter (real thing)
2 cups of sugar
cream well then add -
2 eggs ( I always use jumbo eggs )
Add flour in slowly til mixed well
Add 1 cup coarse chopped pecans (recipe called for walnuts)
Mix well then stir in the apples. Batter is really stiff and difficult to mix when you add the apples and use mixer. (probably would have been easier if I had used my KitchenAide but I was using my small hand mixer because it's only supposed to be mixed until all is blended in)
Spread into pan and bake for 45-50 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. It took 50 in my oven.
Cool in pan for 45 minutes. Cake needs to set up, cause it's kind of crumbly. Keep it refridgerated. Recipe said it can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat in 325 oven - foil covered -for 30 minutes.
Serve with caramel sauce and I put whipped cream on top too. It was just for us, so I used "squirt" whipped cream, but for company I would make homemade and add cinnamon to it.
My Caramel Sauce
1 stick of butter
about 1 c of brown sugar
about 1/2 c milk, half and half, or whipping cream -whichever one I have.
about 1/4 c Buttershots (or 1Tbsp vanilla if not using alcohol)
put all together in sauce pan and cook until sugar is completely dissolved. be careful not to burn!!! add more sugar if too thin. ( I don't measure anything, just taste until I like it). keep refridgerated, will keep a good week or so if it lasts that long!
Caramel sauce recipe that was with cake...
in saucepan...
1/3 c butter
1/3 c white sugar
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c whipping cream
bring to a boil, remove from heat, add 1/4tsp vanilla.
The bread pudding is wonderful, but heavy after a big meal. It's great for breakfast too!!!
