by request: pumpkin bread pudding — Les Petites Gourmettes

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, room temperature, for the baking dish
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 3 large croissants, torn into bite-size pieces (about 8 cups), dried
• 4 cups bite-size pieces pumpkin bread, dried
• 1 cup toasted chopped pecans, optional