Swedish Apple Bread Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

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

Preparation

Place bread slices in single layer in shallow pan.
Evenly drizzle 1/2 cup half and half over bread.
In medium saucepan, mix sugar and water; bring to boil.
Cover and reduce heat.
Simmer 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in vanilla.
Return to medium heat.
Add 1/3 of apple slices and simmer each portion 3 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon.
Reserve sugar syrup.
Line a buttered shallow 2 1/2-quart baking dish; top with 1/2 of poached apples. Make a layer of another 1/3 of the bread.
Cover evenly with remaining apples.
Cover with rest of bread.
Beat eggs; mix in cinnamon and cardamon, then 1 1/2 cups half and half and sugar syrup from poaching apples.
Pour egg mixture evenly over bread. Dot with butter.
Bake at 350\u00b0 until top layer is brown and crusty (1 hour).