Ingredients 🍏
– 4 cups cubed day-old bread (such as French bread or challah) 🍞
– 2 cups diced apples (about 2 medium apples) 🍏
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar 🍭
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 🌰
– 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 🌰
– 3 large eggs 🥚
– 2 cups whole milk 🥛
– 1/2 cup heavy cream 🥥
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 🌿
– 1/4 cup butter, melted 🧈
– Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 🌰
Preparation 🍳
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. 🕒🔥
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. 🍏🍞
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. 🥚🍭🥛🥥🌿🧈
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. 🍞🍏🔄
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. 🍲🔥
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. 😋🍽️