Adapted from The Kosher Baker, by Paula Shoyer
I know it sounds strange, but I once had a dessert in a restaurant that combined sweet brioche bread with beer, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce and I just loved the combination. For an extra kick, serve with vanilla tofutti ice cream. I made six caramel sauces before settling on this one, which was the simplest of them all. Do not be concerned about the "globs" of caramel in the pot when you add the water - just keep cooking and stirring until they melt. The caramel sauce can be made three days in advance.
Ingredients:
Bread Pudding:
2/3 of a large loaf of stale challah, cut into 1-inchcubes (enough to mostly cover the bottom of the pan)
1 1/2 cups full-flavored beer (from one 12-ounce bottle)
6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups parve plain soy milk
Caramel Sauce:
1 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the challah cubes in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Pour the beer over the cubes and toss to coat. Let it 15 minutes. Place the eggs, sugar, vanilla and soy milk in a medium bowl and whisk until combined .Pour or ladle over the beer- soaked challah and bake for 50 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the edges browned.
Mean while, make the Caramel Sauce. Place the sugar in a heavy-bottome saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until all of the sugar has melted and you have a deep amber-colored syrup. Remove from the heat and carefully add the boiling water. The mixture will boil up and you will see some balls of caramel in the pot. Return the pan to medium heat and cook at a rolling boil for 10 minutes. Stir often until all of the caramel pieces have melted and you have a smooth syrup. Let cool, cover with plastic, and store at room temperature.
To serve, cut the pudding into squares, place on your serving plate and drizzle on the Caramel Syrup. Serve warm or at room temperature. The pudding can be reheated in a warm oven (200°F) for 20 minutes.
Notes:
Yield: 12 servings storage
Store covered in plastic in the refrigerator for up to five days.