
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks. Stir until dissolved; let simmer for 5 minutes.
Layer the cubed bread in the baking dish, drizzling half of the syrup mixture over it.
Sprinkle soaked raisins and nuts over the bread layer, then drizzle more syrup on top before adding another layer of bread.
Pour the remaining syrup over everything and bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
For extra flavor, add cheese during the last 10 minutes of baking.