Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 16 cups bread cubes (about 3⁄4 of a 20 oz loaf of bread), toasted
• 2 large apples, cored and diced (about 2 cups – I prefer Granny Smith or Pink Lady)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, divided
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon caramel flavoring (optional – or sub vanilla extract)
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons fresh ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar