Apple-icious Crock Pot Bread Pudding

 I was raised in a large family and my mother made sure nothing was ever wasted. Leftovers were transformed into pot pies and stews or soup. Hash was a common dish and consisted of potatoes and ham or corned beef or pot roast. Stale bread became this wonderful dessert called bread pudding. Desserts were simple so bread pudding was a staple and something we always looked forward to. Sometimes it was simply white bread with lots of sugar and cinnamon or maybe raisins or dates. It always amazed me how something like stale bread could be turned into something so delicious. 

This recipe combines my love of bread pudding with the ease of crock pot cooking. It is easy to assemble and uses applesauce as a substitute for some of the sugar. This recipe has only ⅓ cup of brown sugar (without the glaze) the ingredients are layered in a crock pot and then covered and cooked so in less than 3 hours you have hot, ready to eat bread pudding. It can be kept warm in the crock pot until ready to serve. Makes 6-8 servings.  

               Apple-icious Crock Pot Bread Pudding 

8 cups bread, cubed (16 oz)
1 cup Simply Wholesome Foods Touch of Honey and Cinnamon Applesauce
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup raisins
2 cups milk 
4 eggs, beaten
⅓ cup brown sugar
½ cup melted butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup toasted, chopped, pecans

Cream Cheese Marshmallow Sauce
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1-7 oz jar marshmallow creme

Place bread in a crock pot, spoon applesauce over bread, drizzle with maple syrup. Sprinkle with raisins. In a large bowl whisk milk with eggs and brown sugar. Add melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. Pour mixture over bread layer. Lightly toss mixture with a fork so all layers are saturated. Do not overmix. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Cover and cook on medium for 2 hours. Reduce to low and cook 30 minutes longer or until set.* Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. 

Cream Cheese Marshmallow Sauce
With a mixer on low speed, combine cream cheese and 
marshmallow creme until smooth. Serve sauce over pudding.

*Note: If you slow cooker does not have a medium setting, cook on high for 1½ hours and on low for 45 minutes.