Coconut Bread Pudding

 

Note from Cheri: The Rainforest Cafe is one of those restaurants that goes against expectations. Yes, it's a theme restaurant, yes it's a national chain, and yes, the food is good! Especially this award winning dessert. Follow this link to learn more about this fun restaurant.

1 lb. loaf of white bread, cut in 1 inch cubes 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut 1/3 cup dried apricots, julienne cut 30 oz. Coco Lopez cream of coconut 2 cups whole milk 1T vanilla extract 6 eggs 1 1/2 cups sugar For Garnish Vanilla Ice Cream Chocolate Shavings Whipped Cream Toasted Coconut Powdered Sugar

Serves 6-8 Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom of a 10" X 13" X 3" pan with half of the white bread. Evenly sprinkly half of the julienne apricots and half of the shredded coconut over the white bread. Top that with the remaining bread cubes and then the remaining apricots and coconut. Distribute evenly. In a sauce pan, heat milk, coconut cream, vanilla and granulated sugar until the sugar completely dissolves and the milk is tepid but not hot. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs, then temper them by slowly adding 1 cup of warm milk mixture while stirring. Slowly pour the egg/milk mixture back in the warm milk and stir until well incorporated. Ladle the mixture over the bread, making sure all the bread gets moist. Cover with foil and bake in a water bath for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on one side and whipped cream on the other. Sprinkle whipped cream with chocolate shavings and dust bread pudding with powdered sugar. Finish with toasted coconut on the ice cream.