Roy’s Light Apple-Cranberry Bread Pudding with Walnuts

Makes 6 servings 3 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points (see notes)

Calories 198 Fat 6.8g Carbs 40.6g Fiber 6.4g Protein 8.1g

Ingredients

· 8 slices low-bite/low-point bread

· Cooking spray

· 2 medium apples

· 1 teaspoon lemon juice

· 3 large eggs

· 1/2 cup sugar replacement

· 2 teaspoons vanilla

· 1 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice (see notes)

· 1 1/2 cups almond milk

· 1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half (or more almond milk)

· 1 cup fresh cranberries (see notes)

· 3 Tbsp (26 grams) walnuts, chopped finely (see notes)

Directions

1. The day before you plan to make this, cut the bread into about 1” pieces. (I slice each piece into 16 cubes, 3 cuts one way and 3 the other way.) Set onto a wire rack over a baking sheet and leave on the counter for the bread to dry out, tossing occasionally.

2. The next day, preheat the oven to 325°F and coat an 8” pan with cooking spray.

3. Peel and dice the apples, place in a medium bowl, and toss with the lemon juice to prevent browning as you work on the rest of the dish.

4. In a large bowl, beat the eggs till frothy and light in color, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar replacement, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and beat till smooth. Stir in the almond milk and half and half. Add in the bread cubes, tossing to coat in the egg mixture (custard). Allow to sit about 15 minutes for the bread to absorb a lot of the custard.

5. Add the apples and cranberries, stirring to spread evenly throughout, then pour the mixture in the prepared 8” pan. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts evenly on top, cover with foil, and bake 40 minutes.

6. Carefully remove the foil and bake another 15-20 minutes or until set. Allow to cool at least 5 minutes before serving, or refrigerate and serve cold.

Notes

· If you opt for 8 servings, the bites and points remain at 3.

· In place of the apple pie spice, you can use 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.

· If your cranberries are frozen, thaw in a sieve over a bowl to remove excess liquid.

· I weigh my walnuts for more accuracy. You can eliminate them or exchange them for another nut. Either option may alter bites/points.