Old Fashioned Bread Pudding

A great comfort food!

8 slices crusty bread
6 large eggs
1/2 cup granular sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup water
1 vanilla bean split and scraped
1 - 3 inch cinnamon stick

• Heat oven to  350 F.  Generously butter a 9 inch square baking pan; set aside.  Cut bread into 1/2 inch cubes.  Place cubes in a large bowl.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar substitute; set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, water, vanilla, and cinnamon stick.  Cook, stirring, until the mixture just comes to a boil.
• Whisk hot cream into egg mixture, then pour over the bread cubes.  Let stand 10 minutes, turning occasionally with a rubber spatula.
• Transfer pudding mixture to the prepared pan.  Place pan in a larger roasting pan, fill the outer pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the pudding pan.   Bake for about 1 hour, until set.  Let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.  Serve warm or chilled.