RECIPE: White Chocolate and Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Serves: 8

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup white chocolate chips

• 4 ounces cream cheese

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 (16-ounce) cans pumpkin puree

• 6 large eggs

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 8 ounces croissants, torn into rough 1-inch pieces

• Powdered sugar, for serving

• Freshly whipped cream, for serving

Heat the oven to 225 degrees. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish.

In a medium saucepan, bring the cream, milk, white chocolate, cream cheese and butter to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally to melt the cream cheese and butter.

While the cream mixture is heating, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt in a large bowl.

When the cream mixture is hot, slowly whisk it into the pumpkin mixture. Once the mixture is completely smooth, add in the croissants. Let sit until the croissants have begun to soak up the custard, about 10 minutes.

Transfer the croissant mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake until the pudding has set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Let cool for 15 minutes. Dust the pudding with powdered sugar and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.