White Hot Chocolate

I made this for a shower several years ago.  Yummy!
(From better homes and gardens biggest book of slow cooker recipes)

6 inches stick cinnamon broken
8 cardamom pods
1 vanilla bean split or 2 tsp. Vanilla
3 cups half and half or light cream
3 cups milk
1 1/2 cups white baking pieces

Place the cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla bean, if using, on a square of 100% cotton cheesecloth. Bring up corners of cheesecloth and tie with a clean kitchen string.

In a 3 1/2-4 qt slow cooker stir together the cream, milk, and baking pieces. Add spice bag. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 4-5 hours or on high heat setting for 2-21/2 hours stirring halfway through cooking time. Remove and discard spice bag. Stir in vanilla if using.