Layered Almond-Cream Cheese Bread Pudding with Amaretto Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 1.3 cups almond filling 
• 2 tablespoons almond filling 
• 1 cup butter divided melted
• 12 servings amaretto cream sauce 
• 8 ounce cream cheese softened
• 1  egg yolk 
• 9 large eggs divided
• 2.5 cups half-and-half 
• 1 Dash salt 
• 0.3 cup slivered almonds 
• 0.3 cup sugar 
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
• 16 ounce bread white divided sliced

Equipment

• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Coat a 13- x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Arrange 4 1/2 bread slices in bottom of prepared pan, cutting slices as necessary to fit pan.
2. Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth.
3. Spread half of cream cheese mixture over bread.
4. Whisk together 1 1/4 cups almond filling and 1/2 cup melted butter.
5. Spread half of almond mixture over cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers once, using 4 1/2 bread slices, remaining cream cheese mixture, and remaining almond mixture.
6. Cut remaining bread slices into 1-inch cubes, sprinkle evenly over almond mixture.
7. Whisk together remaining 8 eggs, remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla, half-and-half, and salt; pour over bread cubes. Cover and chill 30 minutes or until most of egg mixture is absorbed.
8. Whisk together remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons almond filling, 2 tablespoons sugar, and egg yolk until blended.
9. Drizzle evenly over bread pudding; sprinkle with almonds.
10. Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until set.
11. Serve warm or chilled with Amaretto Cream Sauce.
12. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Solo Almond Filling.