Cherry Mixed Berry Chocolate Caramel Streusel Bread Pudding

I modified this recipe from a costco cook book I was given by my fiancee. She was on a trip to D.C. to visit her mother and happily received it when her mother found out I was a cook, and my passion for backing. If you take the time to do the small things in this recipe like toast the nuts, and add a little extra vanilla extract to the vanilla flavored soy milk, line your metal pan with parchment paper you will be much happier with the results. The use of vanilla flavored soy milk was more about the vanilla flavor than the dietary concerns. This recipe is now turned from lite to decadent with the adding of melting caramel beads, and more mini chocolate chips in the streusel.

• Ready In: 4 hrs
• Serves: 10-15

Ingredients

• 5  ounces  of whole dried cherries
• 5  ounces  of dried mixed berries
• 5  ounces raisins
• 3  cups boiling water
• 3  tablespoons baking soda
•  buttered-flavored  cooking spray
• 9  eggs (originally 4 whites and 5 whole, but because of the soymilk I made it with 9 whole)
• 1 1⁄4 cups vanilla-flavored soymilk
• 3⁄4 cup  whole milk
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  cup white sugar
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  grated nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 8  cups  whole wheat bread, crumbs, 1 inch cubed crusts removed. (3 slices of bread = 2 cups bread crumbs)
• 1  cup  mini chocolate chip
• 1  cup  chopped & roasted walnut

• STREUSEL

• 2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup oatmeal
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped & roasted walnut
• 1  cup  mini chocolate chip
• 1  cup  caramel, bits (melting)
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 4  tablespoons butter or 4  tablespoons margarine, softened

Directions

1. Boil 3 cups of water, add baking soda and dried berries, cherries and, raisins let soak for at least 2 hours before using preferabley over night.
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. "line a 11-by-15 inch cake pan with parchment paper spray pan and paper with cooking spray.
4. In a bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, spices, milk and vanilla until well blended.
5. In another bowl toss bread crumbs, drained cherries,berries, and raisins' chips and nuts.
6. Add egg mixture and stir well.
7. Press firmly into prepared pan cover with foil.
8. Bake 40-45 min until .
9. Combined all the streusel ingredients in a small bowl.
10. Spread over the top of of pudding and baked uncovered for another 15 minutes.
11. let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.