Coconut-Cream Bread Pudding - cooking recipe

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

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0.
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.
Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour bread mixture into dish.
Bake at 350\u00b0 for 35 minutes or until set.
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.
Stir together remaining 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream of coconut.
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.
Cut bread pudding into 8 to 10 servings, and serve with caramelized sugar sauce.