Layered Almond-cream Cheese Bread Pudding With Amaretto Cream Sa

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• vegetable oil cooking spray
• 16 ounces bread, sliced and divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 9 large eggs, divided
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 1 1/4 cups almond filling
• 1 cup butter, melted and divided
• 2 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 dash salt
• 2 tablespoons almond filling
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup amaretto liqueur
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar

Recipe

• 1 coat a 13- x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. arrange 4 1/2 bread slices in bottom of prepared pan, cutting slices as necessary to fit pan.
• 2 beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth. spread half of cream cheese mixture over bread.
• 3 whisk together 1 1/4 cups almond filling and 1/2 cup melted butter. spread half of almond mixture over cream cheese mixture. repeat layers once, using 4 1/2 bread slices, remaining cream cheese mixture, and remaining almond mixture.
• 4 cut remaining bread slices into 1-inch cubes, sprinkle evenly over almond mixture.
• 5 whisk together remaining 8 eggs, remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla, half-and-half, and salt; pour over bread cubes. cover and chill 30 minutes or until most of egg mixture is absorbed.
• 6 whisk together remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons almond filling, 2 tablespoons sugar, and egg yolk until blended. drizzle evenly over bread pudding; sprinkle with almonds.
• 7 bake at 325° for 1 hour or until set. serve warm or chilled with amaretto cream sauce.
• 8 combine amaretto and cornstarch, stirring until smooth.
• 9 cook cream in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, just until bubbles appear; gradually stir in amaretto mixture. bring to a boil over medium heat, and boil, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. remove from heat; stir in sugar, and let cool completely.