• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut French bread into 1-inch cubes.
• In a medium mixing bowl, beat yolks and 1 1/4 cups sugar.
• In a pan, heat milk, remaining sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract over medium heat, whisking constantly. As mixture begins to boil, turn down heat.
• Add 1/2 cup of milk mixture to egg mixture in bowl and whisk well (This brings temperature of yolks up so that they won't curdle.)
• Add egg mixture to rest of pan mixture. Stir 5 - 7 minutes.
• Stir in white chocolate until smooth.
• Pour mixture over bread. Let set 4 hours, to make sure liquid soaks into bread.
• Place bread in buttered 10 x 12 x 2-inch baking pan. Cover with layer of plastic food service film (Important - See Note Below).
• Then top with foil.
• Place baking pan inside larger pan. Pour in water into larger pan to come up halfway around sides of bread-filled pan.
• Place in oven and bake 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool on the counter.

Planet Hollywood Whiskey Sauce

• In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs.
• Melt butter in heavy-bottomed pan.
• Add sugar. Heat to simmering. Do not allow to boil.
• Add bourbon, stirring. Continue cooking 2 - 3 minutes until bubbles begin forming around edges of pan.
• Add 1/2 cup bourbon mixture to beaten eggs and whisk well to bring the eggs up to temperature.
• Add all of beaten egg mixture to bourbon mixture, whipping constantly.
• When incorporated, strain.

To Serve

• Place a slice of bread pudding on a plate. Spoon Whiskey Sauce over top and allow to soak in well before serving.
• Add a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream on top, if desired.