Paleo Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Ingredients

Caramel Apple Layer:
• 2 cups Granny Smith or low-sugar apples, peeled and sliced VERY thin
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup brown sweetener such as Just Like Sugar Brown natural chicory root sweetener, or 2 teaspoons PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 3 tablespoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 heaping teaspoon ground cloves
• Zest of 1 organic orange
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon maple flavor (optional)
Egg Custard Layer:
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk such as Native Forest Organic Simple Coconut Milk, or Native Forest organic Full-fat coconut milk
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sweetener to taste such as Just Like Sugar Table Top natural chicory root sweetener, or 2 teaspoons PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 3 tablespoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
• A pinch of unprocessed salt
Streusel Topping:
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or any nuts, soaked and toasted if possible. (See All About Nuts)
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
• 1 tablespoon brown sweetener such as Just Like Sugar Brown natural chicory root sweetener, or 1/2 teaspoon PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 2 teaspoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
• 1 tablespoon almond meal or flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A pinch of unprocessed salt
Coffee Cake Layer:
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 cup sweetener to taste such as Just Like Sugar Table Top natural chicory root sweetener, or 2 teaspoons PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 3 tablespoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
• 1/3 cup coconut butter (If mixing by hand, soften it first by warming the jar in lukewarm water)
• 1 1/2 cups almond meal or flour
• 1/4 teaspoon unprocessed salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)

Instructions

Make the Layers in This Order:
Caramel Apple Layer:
1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Get out an 8x8, or 9x9-inch glass or non-toxic square baking pan. Grease with coconut oil.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together all the caramel apple ingredients, and set aside to allow the apples to soften.
Egg Custard Layer:
3. In a small mixing bowl, blender, or food processor, mix all custard ingredients together. Let it sit for a few minutes.
Streusel Topping:
4. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all the streusel ingredients together and set aside for a moment.
Coffee Cake Layer:
5. In a medium mixing bowl or food processor, mix the coffee cake WET ingredients: eggs, vinegar, vanilla, sweetener, and coconut butter.
6. To the ingredients above, add the DRY ingredients: almond meal, salt, baking soda, and nutritional yeast, if using. Work quickly now to assemble and bake, because the soda and vinegar have started the rising action.
Assemble and bake:
7. Working comfortably fast, spread the bottom layer of coffee cake batter into the prepared pan. Cover with a 2nd layer of apples. Pour the 3rd layer, the egg custard over the apples. Sprinkle the 4th layer, the streusel evenly on top. Put it in the oven. Yay! You did it!
8. Bake 35 – 40 minutes or until the topping is barely toasted, and your whole house smells like caramel apples. Cool on a rack 30-60 minutes. Serve warm with Instant Coconut Whipped Cream and Paleo Caramel Sauce.