Savory Bread Pudding with Organic Apples & Pears

Ingredients

• 14-16 ounces loaf of stale artisan bread
• 2 tablespoons butter,
• plus more for the baking dish
• 1 yellow onion,
• 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
• 2 organic Gala apples,
• cored and diced
• 2 organic Anjou pears,
• ½ cup fresh herbs,
• finely minced
• (sage, thyme, rosemary)
• 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 12 large whole eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream