4orangeszested, preferably organic (I used 6 small, ripe tangerines)
1/2cup (100 grams)sugarplus more for sprinkling
6largeegg yolks
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
1/4teaspoonalmond extract
1tablespoonorange flavored liqueursuch as Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or Contreau (I used Triple Sec)
1/2teaspooncinnamon
2largeeggsat room temperature
7ounces (200 grams)almond pastecrumbled
One1-pound (or approximately 450 grams)loaf of firm-textured white breadcut into 1/2″ slices – gluten-free white rice bread works particularly well for this recipe
1/2cupcaramel toppingof your choice, such as David’s Tangerine Butterscotch Sauce
Instructions
Warm the milk, cream, orange zest and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, cover with foil or the pot’s lid, and let steep for one hour.
While you are waiting for the cream mixture to steep, butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish or souffle mold.
After one hour, reheat the cream mixture until it’s very warm. Whisk the yolks in a medium bowl, gradually adding the warm cream while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling the eggs.
Whisk in the vanilla extract, almond extracts, orange liqueur and cinnamon, then pour the mixture through a strainer to remove orange zest and other lumps. Set aside.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs and almond paste until they are smooth. You can use an electric hand mixer for this, but use a low speed as it will tax the motor in your mixer.
Spread a spoonful of almond-egg paste over one side of a slice of bread, then place the slice in the prepared baking dish, almond paste side down. Continue spreading paste on bread, and layering slices into the dish. If you are using a round dish, cut the slices in half diagonally, then layer the resulting triangles in a pinwheel pattern.
Pour the egg-cream mixture over the bread and gently press down, submerging the layers in the liquid.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least an hour), pressing down occasionally to make sure the top layers of bread are soaked through. Ed note: I recommend leaving overnight for a rich, velvety-smooth pudding)
Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). If you've put the bread pudding in the fridge, allow it to come to room temperature before baking by placing it on the counter for at least an hour.
Sprinkle the top of the bread pudding liberally with sugar. Set the baking dish in a water bath by setting it in a large roasting pan, and then filling the roaster with water until it is halfway up the sides of the pudding’s baking dish.
Bake until pudding is puffed up in the center and the top is brown, about 1 hour.
Let cool until warm. Serve warm, drizzled with caramel sauce.
Notes
Nutritional analysis does not include sauce of your choice.