Description
A rich, custardy holiday dessert that transforms stale challah and spiced apples into a golden, comforting treat perfect for Rosh Hashanah or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large loaf stale challah bread (about 8–10 cups cubed / 400-500g)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for greasing)
- 3 medium apples (mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, about 750g), chopped into ½-inch chunks
- ½ cup granulated sugar (divided)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter.
- If using fresh challah, cube it and let it dry out overnight. If already stale, cube it into 1-inch pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, toss the chopped apples with 2 tablespoons of sugar and the cinnamon. Set aside.
- To the bowl with the bread cubes, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, remaining sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and frothy.
- Pour the custard over the bread cubes. Gently toss to coat every piece. Press down gently to ensure bread is submerged. Cover and let soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours in the fridge).
- Pour the soaked bread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the spiced apple chunks evenly over the top. Sprinkle with nuts if using.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp, and the center is set but slightly jiggly. If browning too fast, tent with foil for the last 15 minutes.
- Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving warm with whipped cream or caramel sauce.
Notes
Use stale challah for best texture; fresh bread will disintegrate. Soaking the bread in the custard for at least 30 minutes is crucial for a creamy texture. Can be assembled the night before and refrigerated, adding 5-10 minutes to baking time if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: Rosh Hashanah, Apple Challah, Bread Pudding, Holiday Dessert, Jewish New Year, Easy Dessert, Make-Ahead