Pumpkin Bread Pudding

I was looking through pumpkin recipes when I spotted this. It has the highest review rate of any recipe I have ever seen, so I figured I had to post it here. This certainly couldn't be any easier or faster, and it returns excellent results. Remember, any squash will do. Just grab a scale to be sure you are using the correct amount.

From the Wildfire Restaurant in Oak Brook, IL.

Bread pudding

• 2 cups half and half
• 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
• 1 cup (packed) plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 10 cups 1/2-inch cubes egg bread (about 10-ounces)
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

Caramel sauce

• 1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

• 
  

  For bread pudding:
  Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk half and half, pumpkin, dark brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and vanilla extract in large bowl to blend. Fold in bread cubes. Stir in golden raisins. Transfer mixture to 11x7-inch glass baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake pumpkin bread pudding until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

  
  

  Meanwhile, prepare caramel sauce:
  Whisk brown sugar and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Whisk in cream and stir until sugar dissolves and sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes.

  Sift powdered sugar over bread pudding. Serve warm with caramel sauce.