Kneaders Raspberry Bread Pudding with Warm Vanilla Sauce

This recipe is a copy cat of the Raspberry Bread Pudding from Kneaders Bakery.  It is pretty much heaven on earth.  I made it last year with croissants and then my friend Corinne made it over the holidays with French bread and I loved it even more.  

1 1/2 loaves stale french bread
1 qt. heavy cream
3 C. sugar (I think you could cut this down to 2 cups maybe even 1 1/2)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
5 C. raspberries, fresh or frozen
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. apple juice

In a large bowl mix the cream, sugar, egg and vanilla. Cut bread into 1 1/2 inch cubes and add to cream mixture, coating the bread well.Let stand 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to allow cream to absorb.Mix the raspberries, sugar and apple juice, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

Layer a 9×13 inch baking pan 3/4 full with the bread mix and pour fruit filling over the bread mix, spreading evenly.

Top with the remaining bread.Bake 40 minutes at 375.

Serve warm topped with vanilla cream sauce.

(If you want it to cut into nice squares you can chill it and then cut it into squares, then microwave it for 20-25 seconds per piece and top with sauce.)

Vanilla Cream Sauce

2/3 C. butter
2.5 T. flour
1 1/2 C. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C. sugar

Melt butter in medium saucepan and add flour.  Stir 10 minutes until it has a nutty aroma, do not brown.  Add salt, cream and sugar until mix is thick.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Serve warm over the pudding.