Coconut-Cream Bread Pudding

Cream of coconut, cream cheese and pecans combine in this bread pudding. From Southern Living.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar, divided
• 4  large eggs
• 2 1⁄2 cups milk, at room temperature and divided
• 1 (15 ounce) can cream of coconut, divided
• 8  tablespoons butter, melted and divided
• 1 (8 ounce)  French bread, loaf cut into 1-inch cubes
•  vegetable oil cooking spray
• 1⁄2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Beat cream cheese at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Add 1 cup sugar and eggs, and beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Stir in 2 cups milk, 1 cup cream of coconut, and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Stir in bread cubes. Let stand 5 minutes.
3. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour bread mixture into dish.
4. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until set.
5. Stir together flaked coconut, pecans, and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle coconut mixture over baked pudding, and bake 5 to 8 more minutes or until browned.
6. Stir together remaining 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream of coconut.
7. Cook remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium-size heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until sugar is caramelized and mixture becomes a light brown syrup. Stir in milk mixture, and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until sauce is thickened slightly and sugar is dissolved. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter.
8. Cut bread pudding into 8 to 10 servings, and serve with caramelized sugar sauce.