Country Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes ; Granny-Smith-Caramel-Apple & Pecan Bread Pudding & Cranberry and Walnut Cake with Maple-Bourbon Sauce

Ahhhh...just like Grandma used to make. A country style Thanksgiving is filled love, food and laughter. These recipes will delight and satisfy, while putting a perfect pucker on everyone's lips.

Thanksgiving Dessert; Granny Smith Carmel Apple & Pecan Bread Pudding Recipe:

So easy to make, and so good it should be illegal. This recipe may be halved, doubled, tripled or quadrupled, but be warned, it will disappear quickly. Serve wisely.

Ingredients:
1 stick salted sweet cream butter (melted)
1 cup firmly pressed light brown sugar
3 large eggs or 4 small eggs
2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream (melted), or 2 cups light cream (or half & half)
1 cup almond milk
zest of 1/2 an orange
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. fresh ground nutmeg
2-3 oz. of Apple Jack, brandy or bourbon (depending on how "strong" you like it)
1 loaf of cinnamon/raisin bread (diced or torn)
1 cup pecans (toasted & roughly chopped)
2 Granny Smith apples (diced)

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place diced or torn raisin bread, pecans and apples into buttered 13x9 baking dish. Drizzle with 1/4 cup (or 1/2 stick) melted butter and stir lightly to coat. Bake for 10 min. or until bread is lightly browned. Remove and set to side turning oven down to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, whisk together all liquid ingredients starting with 1/2 stick melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, melted ice cream and milk, beat till frothy. Stir in spices, orange zest and Apple Jack. Pour over bread mixture and let set for 20 min (so it can soak up all those goodies). Then bake at 350 degrees for about 40-45 min. or until apples are tender when pierced and custard is set. Let pudding stand, covered, for about 15 minutes. May be served with ice cream and/or Russell Stover's caramel sauce.

Thanksgiving Dessert; Cranberry and Walnut Cake with Maple-Bourbon Sauce Recipe:
Yum-o. This one really makes me feel like home. Share it with all those you love.

Ingredients;
1 cup salted sweet cream butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of sea salt
1 tsp vanilla ext. or essence
zest and juice of 1 orange
3 eggs
1 cup toasted walnuts
1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 .Sift together flour, baking powder and pinch of sea salt. Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy, add eggs, vanilla, orange juice and zest. Incorporate well and slowly add dry ingredients. Mix Stir in walnuts and dried cranberries. Pour into 8 in. cake tin. Bake at 400 for 35 min. Turn down oven and bake at 350 for another 25-30 min. or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool. Meanwhile make the sauce.

Maple-Bourbon Sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup bourbon

In a heat-proof bowl, whisk the egg and sugar until light. Set the bowl over a saucepan of slowly simmering water. Whisk constantly until warm and fluffy. Whisk in the butter. Whisk in the maple syrup and the bourbon and serve immediately.

Enjoy! -Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving Day, and may all your Thanksgivings be filled with laughter, love and thanks.

Resources & More Reading:

recipe for sauce; http://www.grouprecipes.com/7246/apple-bread-pudding-with-bourbon-maple-sauce.html

More of MY Thanksgiving articles:
Thanksgiving Day Drink Recipes for Both Kids & Adults; Super Cider, Pumpkin Smash Bombs, and Pumpkin Butterbeer (for the Kiddies)

Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes; 2 Savory Side Dishes Bartlet Pear, Granny Smith Apple & Hazelnut Dressing, and Squash & Spinach O'Gratin