Creating Southern Praline Bread Pudding is simple if you follow these steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Prepare Bread: In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes and pecans. Set aside.
3. Mix Custard: In another bowl, whisk together the milk, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
4. Combine Ingredients: Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes and gently toss to coat. Allow it to soak for about 15 minutes.
5. Prepare Topping: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and heavy cream. Cook until the mixture is bubbly and smooth, about 5 minutes.
6. Add to Bread Mixture: Pour half of the praline mixture over the soaked bread, gently folding to combine.
7. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the bread pudding mixture into the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the remaining praline sauce over the top.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Cool: Remove from the oven and let it cool for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the pudding to set nicely.

These steps will guide you in creating this incredible bread pudding effortlessly.