Spiked Cranberry Walnut Bread Pudding

Name: Spiked Cranberry Walnut Bread Pudding
Ingredients: 2 tbl. unsalted butter, divided; 3 cups of stale challah bread, cubed; 1 1/2 cup of buttermilk; 1 cup of cream, divided; 4 fresh large eggs, room temperature; pinch of kosher salt; dash of Saigon cinnamon and fresh grated nutmeg; 1/2 cup of whole fresh cranberries; 1/2 cup of brown sugar; 1/2 cup of chopped toasted pecans (or walnuts); 1/2 cup of maple syrup, grade B preferred, divided...or more to taste; splash of Maker's Mark, divided (or use 1/2 tsp. of vanilla)