Ingredients ๐Ÿ
โ€“ 4 cups cubed day-old bread (such as French bread or challah) ๐Ÿž
โ€“ 2 cups diced apples (about 2 medium apples) ๐Ÿ
โ€“ 1/2 cup granulated sugar ๐Ÿญ
โ€“ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ๐ŸŒฐ
โ€“ 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg ๐ŸŒฐ
โ€“ 3 large eggs ๐Ÿฅš
โ€“ 2 cups whole milk ๐Ÿฅ›
โ€“ 1/2 cup heavy cream ๐Ÿฅฅ
โ€“ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ๐ŸŒฟ
โ€“ 1/4 cup butter, melted ๐Ÿงˆ
โ€“ Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts ๐ŸŒฐ

Preparation ๐Ÿณ
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Grease a 9ร—13-inch baking dish. ๐Ÿ•’๐Ÿ”ฅ

2. Prepare Bread and Apples: Place the cubed bread in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the diced apples with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Add the spiced apples to the bread cubes and toss to combine. ๐Ÿ๐Ÿž

3. Make Custard Mixture: In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and melted butter until well combined. ๐Ÿฅš๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿฅฅ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿงˆ

4. Combine and Bake: Pour the custard mixture over the bread and apple mixture. Gently stir to ensure that the bread and apples are evenly coated. If using, sprinkle the top with chopped pecans or walnuts. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. ๐Ÿž๐Ÿ๐Ÿ”„

5. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is golden brown. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean. ๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿ”ฅ

6. Cool and Serve: Let the bread pudding cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, optionally with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. ๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿฝ๏ธ