Chunky Apple-Apricot Bread Pudding - Lidia

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon soft butter
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon (about 2 teaspoons)
• 3 cups day-old hearty white bread, crusts removed, cut in ½ -inch cubes
• 1 ½ pounds firm baking apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½ -inch chunks (see head note to preceding Baked Apples recipe for good apples to use)
• 6 tablespoons apricot preserves
• ½ cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts