Autumn Fruit Noodle Kugel

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius), ensuring it reaches the desired temperature before proceeding.

Next, take a moment to prepare your baking dish by coating it with melted butter, covering the entire surface. This will prevent any egg noodles or pudding from sticking to the dish during cooking.

Now, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and season it lightly with salt. Submerge the egg noodles in this boiling water, gently stirring occasionally until they reach your desired level of doneness - still slightly firm to the bite. Allow them to cook for approximately 5 minutes, then drain excess water.

In a separate bowl, combine the diced apple and pear with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Set this mixture aside for later use.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, applesauce, white granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.

Gradually stir in the cranberries, cooked egg noodles, and apple mixture into your egg mixture. Pour this combined mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in a preheated oven, allowing the noodle pudding to set for 35 to 45 minutes.

Remove the foil and return the pudding to the oven, baking it for an additional 10 minutes or until it reaches a golden brown color. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature before serving, or serve chilled for a refreshing dessert.