Swedish Apple Bread Pudding

By luvmybuttonsnbows

Ingredients

• 9 slices firm, white bread, cut into halves
• 2 c. half-and-half (light cream)
• 1/2 c. each sugar and water
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 6 medium-sized tart apples, peeled, cored, sliced
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamon
• 2 tbsp. butter or margarine
• cream (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

Place bread slices in a single layer in a shallow pan. Evenly drizzle ½ cup of the half-and-half over bread. In a medium saucepan mix sugar and water, bring to boiling. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer 5 min. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Return to medium heat. Add about a third of the apple slices, and simmer each portion 3 min. Remove with a slotted spoon. Reserve sugar syrup. When all apples are poached, line a buttered, shallow 2½-quart baking dish with about a third of the bread slices; top with half of the poached apples. Make a layer of another third of the bread. Cover evenly with remaining apples. Cover with the rest of the bread. Beat eggs slightly; mix in cinnamon and cardamon, then remaining 1½ cups half-and-half and sugar syrup from poaching apples. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread. Dot with butter. Bake at 350° until top layer of bread is brown and crusty, about 1 hr. Serve hot or at room temperature, with cream, if you wish,