Bread Pudding With Orange Caramel Sauce

Posted for ZWT III for Spain/Portugal. Found this on chow.com, originally from the cookbook, Cesar : Recipes from a Tapas Bar. This recipe is designed for individual ramekins, but it can easily be adapted for a larger baking dish: You will have to bake it a little longer, testing it for doneness by inserting a knife into the center, as you would a cake; it is done when the knife comes out clean. NOTE: This needs to be started the night before.

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• For the bread pudding

• 4  cups milk
• 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
• 1  cinnamon stick
• 2  oranges, zest of, grated
• 12  cups  bread cubes (1/4-inch cubes)
• 6  egg yolks
• 2  eggs

• For the sauce

• 2  cups  freshly squeezed  blood orange juice or 2  cups  regular  orange juice
• 1  cup heavy cream
• 4  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1  cup granulated sugar

• For the garnish

• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream, whipped
• 1⁄4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. To make the pudding;.
2. Heat the milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, and orange zest in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Let cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight to steep.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F Put the bread cubes in a large bowl.
5. Reheat the milk mixture and remove the cinnamon stick. In a large bowl, lightly whisk together the yolks and eggs.
6. Pour the milk mixture into the eggs and mix thoroughly.
7. Pour this mixture over the bread and allow to soak for a few minutes.
8. Butter the insides of eight 5-ounce ramekins. Divide the mixture among the ramekins and place them in a roasting pan or on a large, deep sheet pan.
9. Pour about 1 inch of water into the pan to create a water bath.
10. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours.
11. To make the sauce:
12. Bring orange juice to a simmer over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan, then reduce to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes.
13. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, add cream, and set aside.
14. In another saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar and continue to cook, stirring frequently until sugar is lightly caramelized, about 3 minutes.
15. Add the orange juice mixture, stirring constantly.
16. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain through a fine sieve.
17. Serve the pudding warm, either turned out onto individual plates or left inside the ramekins.
18. Top with the sauce, a dollop of whipped cream, and a dusting of powdered sugar.