Maple-Bacon Bread Pudding

Maple-Bacon Bread Pudding

2 cups milk
2 cups half-and-half
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup orange marmalade
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 whole eggs
8 cups bread, cubed
6-8 ounces cooked bacon
cup melted butter
1/2 cup organic maple syrup
3/4 cups walnuts

-Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and spray a 9-inch square baking pan. Combine milk, half-and-half, brown sugar, marmalade, egg yolks, cinnamon and whole eggs. Whisk until blended and set aside.

-Place cubed bread in a large bowl, and add cooked bacon, butter and maple syrup. Toss until evenly distributed then transfer to baking pan. Pour egg mixture over the top, not quite filling the pan, then stir.

-Crumble 3/4 cup of walnuts over the top. Place a plate over cubes, and set aside for 20 minutes.

-Wrap the baking pan with foil tightly. Poke 2 holes on opposite sides. Place on a pre-heated sheet pan.

-Bake 1 hour 15 minutes, then uncover and continue another 15 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.