Om Ali (Egyptian Bread Pudding)

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1. 1Step 1: Infuse the milk-cream mixture: Add the milk and cream to a medium saucepan over low heat. Once warm, add the sugar and crushed mastic and stir until they are totally dissolved. Once the milk starts to bubble on the edges of the pan, add the infuser bag that has the spices and let the milk gently simmer on very low heat for no more than 1 minute. Turn off the heat, and let the spices impart their flavors for 30 minutes at least or until the milk comes to room temperature.
2. 2Step 2: Bake the puff pastry: Lay down the cold sheets of puff pastry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°C for 20-25 minutes until the puff pastry sheets are puffed and golden. Remove the baking sheets from the oven, and let them cool off slightly. Break the baked puff pastry into pieces and set them aside, until you are ready to assemble the dessert (see notes). In case you are using baked croissant, just tear them with your fingers or with a knife into bite pieces.
3. 3Step 3: Whip up the cream: Pour the whipping cream into the container of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Run the mixer first on low speed, when the cream becomes frothy, add one tablespoon of icing sugar, increase the speed while adding gradually the rest of the sugar, stir in the vanilla extract and continue whipping until soft peaks form. You can add rose water, or orange blossom as additional flavorings to the whipped cream, if you will.
4. 4Step 4: Assemble the dish: Add the pieces of puff pastry to a deep clay or a ceramic dish that is 8-9 -inch diameter and 3 inches depth. Pour the milk-cream mixture, over the puff pastry and toss in the nuts and distribute them evenly in the baking dish. Add the whipped cream topping, sprinkle some cinnamon powder on the top.
5. 5Step 5: Bake: Preheat the oven to 360° F or 180° C and bake Om Ali for 20-25 minutes or until it starts to bubble. To brown the surface, turn on the broil for 3 minutes or use a torch to tan the cream topping.
6. 6Step 6: Serve: Garnish the Om Ali with some crushed nuts. Serve it hot, warm, or cold.