Caramel Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise and scraped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup dark rum or brandy
• 1 baguette (1 pound) cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

1. 1
   In a large bowl, whisk eggs until combined. Whisk in milk, cream, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla bean, salt and rum. Add bread and let soak 45 minutes to 1 hour, pushing bread down occasionally until most of liquid has been absorbed.
2. 2
   Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over high heat stir together, remaining 1 cup sugar, vinegar, and 1/2 cup water until sugar has dissolved. Cook, without stirring until sugar is dark amber in color, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add 1/4 cup water (mixture will sputter) swirl pot until combined.
3. 3
   Working quickly, pour caramel into a 9-inch round baking pan, carefully rotating the pan so caramel covers the bottom and some of the sides; set aside until cool.
4. 4
   Preheat the oven to 350. Put a kettle of water on to boil. Rub cooled pan with butter and spoon in bread mixture packing bread tightly to fit. Cover with a parchment round.
5. 5
   Place pan in a roasting pan and pour hot water to come halfway up the side of the pan. Bake 1 1/4 hours or until a knife inserted in the center comes out barely clean. Do not overbake. Let stand 5 minutes then run a metal spatula around the edges and invert the pudding onto a large rimmed plate.