Prepare the Bread Pudding:
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Mix the Custard:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine with Bread:
Add the bread cubes to the custard mixture, stirring to coat evenly. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard. Stir in the chopped pecans.
Bake the Bread Pudding:
Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15–20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
Prepare the Pecan Pie Topping:
Make the Topping:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar, stirring until combined. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, then simmer for 2–3 minutes. Stir in the chopped pecans.
Top the Bread Pudding:
Pour the pecan pie topping over the baked bread pudding, spreading it evenly.
Serve:
Cool and Enjoy:
Allow the bread pudding to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.