Cold-Oven Black Walnut Cake

ctive Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 40 mins
Servings:
8

Ingredients
Bread Pudding

16 pecan sweet rolls (such as Little Debbie Pecan Spinwheels) (from 2 [8.46-oz.] pkg.), cut into quarters

4 large eggs

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup whole milk

2 Tbsp. light brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 small (6 oz.) apple (such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp), peeled and finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1/2 cup chopped pecans, plus more for garnish

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more for baking dish

Glaze

1/2 cup (4 oz.) cream cheese

1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. kosher salt

2 to 3 Tbsp. whole milk

Directions
Prepare pan, toast cake pieces:
Preheat oven to 350°F, and grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter. Gather your ingredients.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding ingredients
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Arrange quartered sweet rolls in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until lightly toasted and cut sides are just dry to the touch, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding toasted pastry on a baking sheet
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Make custard mixture:
Whisk together eggs, cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding whisking the custard together
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Gently stir in sweet rolls, and set aside. Let stand until rolls have softened and absorbed some of the egg mixture, about 20 minutes.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding adding the toasted pastry to the custard mixture
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Mix and bake the Bread Pudding:
Gently stir in chopped apple and pecans.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding adding the chopped apples and pecans to the mixture
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Transfer sweet rolls mixture to prepared baking dish, and drizzle with melted butter. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet.

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding in a casserole dish before baking
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Bake at 350°F, uncovered, until puffed, top is golden-brown, and center is set, 45 to 50 minutes. (Loosely cover with aluminum foil during final 5 to 10 minutes of bake time to prevent overbrowning, as needed.)

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding after baking
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Prepare the Glaze:
Place cream cheese in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH until soft and stirrable, 15 to 30 seconds. Whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth and creamy. Gradually whisk in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. (Glaze should be thick but pourable).

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding mixing the glaze
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Finish the Bread Pudding:
Drizzle Bread Pudding evenly with desired amount of Glaze, and garnish with pecans. Serve warm with remaining Glaze, as desired.