Creating this wonderful Butter Pecan Bread Pudding is straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

2. Mix Bread and Pecans: In a large bowl, combine the cubed stale bread and chopped pecans. Toss them together so that the pecans are evenly distributed among the bread.

3. Prepare Custard: In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined.

4. Combine: Pour the custard mixture over the bread and pecans. Use a spatula to gently mix everything together, ensuring the bread is fully coated with the custard.

5. Let Soak: Allow the mixture to sit for about 15-20 minutes, giving the bread time to absorb the custard.

6. Add Butter: Drizzle the melted butter over the bread mixture and gently fold it in.

7. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the bread mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.

8. Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.

9. Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving. This will help the pudding set further.

10. Serve: Dish out generous portions of the warm bread pudding, optionally topping with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.

Following these steps will lead to an incredible Butter Pecan Bread Pudding that’s sure to delight!