Capirotada - Rick Bayless

Ingredients

• 8 cups bread cubes (½ inch pieces is ideal)
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/4 pounds Piloncillo , chopped OR 2 ½ cups dark brown sugar, well packed, plus ¼ cup molasses
• 1 1/3 cups red wine, divided use
• 4 inches Mexican cinnamon stick
• 6 cloves
• 2/3 cup raisins or other dried fruit (if the dried fruit you choose is in pieces larger than raisins, cut it smaller)
• 6 ounces (about 1 ¼ cups) mixed nuts (such as pecans, blanched almonds, peanuts or pinenuts)
• 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) Mexican queso añejo or another garnishing cheese such as queso fresco, farmer’s cheese, or dry goat cheese crumbles
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)