Stuffed Pumpkin with Apple & Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding
2011 Taste Of Home Iron Chef Challenge Bake-Off
This September, I was thrilled to win the Red Star Yeast Iron Chef Challenge at A Latte With Ott A with my Chocolate Babka recipe – so, you can imagine my excitement when I was invited to face off in an Iron Chef Challenge Bake-Off against the other 2011 winners!
The Iron Chef Challenge Bake-Off consists of two parts:
- Make Taste Of Home Cinnamon Raisin Bread.
- Create a new recipe from the Cinnamon Raisin Bread and blog about it.
The winner of the challenge – which Taste Of Home is sponsoring and judging – will be named the 2011 Iron Chef Blogger!
The Creative Process
For this challenge, I baked the Cinnamon Raisin Bread with Apples and Pecans to create a scrumptious bread pudding that is reminiscent of fresh-baked French apple pie. I also carved and baked a petite pumpkin that serves as the dessert’s gorgeous presentation bowl. Finally, I created a delicious rum glaze to drizzle over the bread pudding, and added fresh pomegranate kernels for a luscious, colorful effect. The dish looks so beautiful you won’t want to eat it – but once you taste it, you won’t want to stop!
Note: When I made this recipe, I baked a double portion as reflected in the photographs.
Stuffed Pumpkin With Apple & Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding
Seasonal enough for the harvest… elegant enough for the holidays… when you want to serve your family and guests an extraordinary dessert that speaks of comfort and culinary delight – present your guests with this beautiful, delicious dessert.
Ingredients
4 Slices of Taste Of Home Cinnamon Raisin Bread
6 Tablespoons Butter, Melted Plus 1 Teaspoon Butter, Melted and Set Aside
½ Cup Packed Brown Sugar Plus 1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar
½ Cup Chopped Pecans
3 Large Tart Apples, Peeled and Thinly Sliced
1 Tablespoon Calvados Apple Brandy
1 Pie Pumpkin, About The Size Of Your Hand
1 Egg
1/3 Cup Heavy Cream Plus ½ Tablespoon Heavy Cream
½ Teaspoon Vanilla
½ Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoon Rum
1 Tablespoon Fresh Pomegranate Seeds
Instructions
1. Make two loaves of Taste Of Home Cinnamon Raisin Bread (challenge requirement).
2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
3. Cut four, ½ inch thick slices from the Cinnamon Raisin Bread and toast them until firm and brown – well done but not burnt. Slice the bread into ½” cubes. Place the cubes in a large bowl and set them aside.
4. Combine the following ingredients in a medium bowl:
- 6 Tablespoons of Melted Butter
- ½ Cup of Packed Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup Chopped Pecans
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Liqueur
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the following ingredients until smooth:
- 1/3 Cup Heavy Cream
- ½ Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 Egg
6. Combine the mixed ingredients from Steps 4 & 5 and mix until smooth.
7. Pour the mixture from Step 6 over the cubed cinnamon raisin bread (Step 3) and gently fold everything
together.
8. Place the sliced apples in the bottom of a 9 x 9 casserole dish. Scoop the bread mixture over the apples.
9. Cut off the top of the pumpkin; reserve the lid. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds and pulp. Brush the inside of the pumpkin with 1 teaspoon of melted butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. Top with the lid.
10. Place the pumpkin and the 9 x 9 casserole dish on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake the pumpkin for 40 minutes and bake the bread pudding for 60 minutes.
11. While the dessert is baking, make the Rum Glaze by whisking these ingredients together in a bowl until smooth:
- ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 Tablespoon Rum
12. When the pumpkin is done baking, drain any residual liquid from it.
13. Fill the pumpkin with the Apple and Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding.
14. Garnish with 1 Tablespoon of Pomegranate Kernels and 1 Tablespoon of Rum Glaze.
15. Serve immediately.
Resources
- For more great recipes, see Create With Joy – Recipes!
I saw Deb Barnes review of your blog… I see that you are a Maine Coon Person! I have a 4 pedigreed Maine Coons- brown MC- Candy and a blue MC- Tommy- like your two MCs. I also have a blue/silver patched tabby w/white MC named JOY and Joy’s son is Pride- Today just so happens to be Pride’s 10th Birthday! I love creative blogs and subscribe to several of them. I will most definitely bookmark your blog. I hope you will come us as well. Our cat family also includes a Maine Coon look alike cream colored domestic longhair- named Furby and a shorthaired barn cat named Moony- We lost Moony’s littermate Sunny at almost 13 and Puff-Kitty at almost 14… we did have 8 and now we have 6 cats. Come say HI!
From what cattery did you get your cats? : )
Hey there… new follower from the hop! Great looking recipe!
Congrats on your winning as well!!
Paula
realhousewifeofsingapore.blogspot.com
Twitter: heathermcdougle
says:
This looks so yummy!
I’m coming by and browsing around from the Alexa Drop Hop.
Looks super delicious and just WOW! Would love to have a taste..
Came here via Alphabe Thursday… am following you now..
Oh, wow! Delicious AND beautiful!
=)
I feel fatter each time I read your blog…LOL. I love bread pudding when it’s done right and this one looks delectable!
Hi! That looks yummy! Your tutorial is great! I have always been so intimidated to do it from scratch! Well, the pumpkin anyway! Anyway, I found you via the Alexa Drop Hop, thought I would show ya some comment love! I’m following via GFC! I couldn’t find a G+ button!
http://craftyzoowithmonkeys.blogspot.com
What a beautiful dish !! Terah
Wow that looks wonderful. Thanks for linking up to the NOBH
What a creative use for the pumpkin. And I love that you used pomegrante seeds. Thanks for participating in the iron Chef Challenge and best of luck.
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it! I can’t imagine anyone that woudn’t want to dig right into this! 🙂
Angela Michels
‘Awesome’ is the word I’d use, too. This has just about every ingredient that I love.
How beautiful- of course this is a winner.
Oh my what a stunning display of yummy stuff!
stopping by from Super Stalker Sunday! I am always happy to find new recipes and this one is so UNIQUE! Thanks for sharing, I cant wait to try it on my family.
I now follow you!
Oh my goodness! This looks divine!
Came by on the Sunday Funday Hippidy Hop 🙂
Old follower GFC
http://ramblingandadventure.blogspot.com/
It looks absolutely delicious!
It is such a great dessert – a real treat
Twitter: goaskkatie
says:
What a delicious and creative recipe. I love bread pudding! Sending hugs your way!!!! 🙂 smooches!
What a pretty way to add a special sidedish for the holiday meal! I am a new follower from Creative Bloggers Party & Hop.
Blessings,
Cindy
I just LOVE this idea. Gorgeous presentation as well! Enjoy your blog so far and looking forward to future posts. Now a follower and on Twitter as well. Please feel free to follow back 🙂
http://www.yeewittlethings.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/yeewittlethings
Delicious, thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe to Hearth and soul blog hop.
Wow! This recipe looks amazing! 😀
Good luck in the bake off!
Congratulations on being chosen to participate. I think you did a fabulous job and your recipe is being featured, tomorrow on My Meatless Mondays.
Twitter: apriljharris
says:
What a wonderful way to serve a delicious bread pudding! I love the flavours in this comforting seasonal treat. Thank you for sharing this post with the Hearth and Soul hop.
The pumpkin is such a Fun idea…
It looks absolutely Fabulous!
Thanks for such a Flavorful link to the letter “F”!
Fond wishes For a Fantastic 2012!
A+
SUCH an amazing use of pomegranates!! I’m totally stealing your idea!
this looks delicious! cant wait to try
Gee this sounds delicious and would be great for a Thanksgiving get together. Love the idea of the raisins andpomegranates Visiting from Real Food Fridays! Thanks for sharing.
PINNING!!!
What a wonderful dish for a fall family and friend gathering. This will be the hit of the dinner party! I can’t wait to try this. Glad I found your post on Diana Rambles PinMe Party.
Wow, this just looks amazing and it is so pretty served inside the pumpkin. I love the Rum glaze. Definitely a winner. Thank you for sharing n the Blog Hop Blitz!!
Terri Henkels – Easy Life
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much – I was really happy with how this recipe and presentation turned out! 🙂
Thanks so much for posting at the Blog Hop Blitz, where we’ve selected you as one of our Most Valuable Bloggers!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Awesome – thanks Tiffany!
Twitter: FreeStyleMama
says:
I’m a little behind on my blogging since I was out of town, but you probably already know that you were featured at Diana Rambles on the 18th! You’ve been pinned!!
Twitter: Sewcraftyangel
says:
This looks amazing and beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us at our Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Angel
Twitter: Myllls
says:
Ramona, this looks really good, I have never tried cooking or using pumpkins to stuff, lol only to decorate. Thanks for sharing over at Weekends Are Fun Party!!
Have a great weekend, Karren
WOW! This looks SUPER Yummy!
Stopping by from My Favorite Things: http://timeforseason.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-favorite-things-saturdays-43-913.html
That looks like amazing bread pudding!
What a great idea, this will be delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! Your post has been pinned to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board 🙂 If I made this without the alchohols, would it still come out okay or should I substitute another ingredient?
Stopping by from Foodie Fridays. This looks amazing! What a great autumn treat and such a spectacular presentation!
Twitter: Xmasdolly
says:
This would definitely be a great centerpiece too at a Halloween Party don’t you think? I have got to write down this recipe and bring it to a Halloween Party I’m going too. That would be so neat. Hope I can do it. Thanks for sharing. Woo Hoo
That looks amazing! Caught my attention right away! Wish you would like this up with us at our Home Matters Linky Party!
That looks delicious.
If only i could bake.
Keep in touch(ed),
KG
http://www.touchedmagazine.com
I So love bread pudding!!! And this looks and sounds incredible!!! I cannot wait to try this!!! Thanks for linking up with us at #Foodie Fridays! You have been pinned!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much for the pin Mila – glad you enjoyed the recipe!