White Chocolate Bread Pudding w/ Irish Whiskey Sauce Recipe

FOR SAUCE:
Combine cream, whiskey, and sugar in heavy small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low. Mix 2 tablespoons water and cornstarch in bowl until smooth. Add to cream mixture; simmer until sauce thickens slightly (leaves path when finger is drawn across back of spoon), stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Strain sauce into small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)

FOR PUDDING:
Preheat oven to 400 F. Whisk milk, sugar, eggs, yolks, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Mix in bread. Let stand 20 minutes.

Stir both chocolates into bread mixture. Transfer to 8-inch square glass baking dish. Place baking dish in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come 1 inch up sides of baking dish. Bake until pudding is set, about 1 hour. Remove baking dish from water. Cool pudding slightly and serve warm with chilled sauce.