Use a small saucepan and combine 2 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, as well as the dried apricots, and cherries. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Put a lid on the saucepan and remove from the heat. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Making Custard
Use a medium saucepan, add 2 cups of heavy cream plus 2 cups of milk, and bring to a simmer. (Don't bring it to boil.) Remove the mixture from the heat.
Use a large mixing bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar, and blend using an electric mixer.
Gradually whisk the warm cream-milk mixture into the creamed eggs. Allow the custard to rest for 15 minutes.
Assembling the Bread Pudding
Grease a 13x9 inch glass baking dish.
Cut the pre-sliced white bread into rectangles. Put a layer of the bread in the greased 13x9 inch glass baking dish.
Use a colander to strain the fruit. If you are making the caramel sauce, reserve the remaining soaking liquid.
Sprinkle the soaked fruit over the bread. Add another layer of bread on top of the fruit.
Slowly pour the custard over the bread. Use a fork to gentle press down areas of the bread id they aren't fully submerged.
Move the baking dish with the bread pudding into the preheated oven and bake for 50 minutes until golden-brown. Remove the bread pudding from the oven. Push a fork in the middle of bread pudding. If it comes out clean, the bread pudding is done.
Making Caramel Sauce {optional}
Use a medium saucepan, combine ¼ cup of water plus 1 cup of sugar, and bring to a boil using medium-low heat. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved completely.
Allow the mixture to boil without stirring until it turns a dark shade of amber.
Whisk in the reserved soaking liquids (bubbles will intensify). Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to thicken.
Slowly pour and whisk in 1 cup cream into the sauce. Continue to stir until the caramel sauce thickens - about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Video
Notes
If you are not making the Caramel Sauce, the per slice nutritional information changes.I strive to give you as much information as possible, but keep in mind that all nutritional calculations are estimates.