Preheat oven to 350
Bread Pudding: Brush melted butter on one side of French bread slices, and place bread, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Bake bread 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes, and set aside. Combine raisins and whiskey in a small bowl; cover and let stand 10 minutes or until soft (do not drain).
Combine 1% milk and next 4 ingredients (1% milk through eggs) in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add bread cubes and raisin mixture, pressing gently to moisten; let stand 15 minutes. Spoon bread mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pudding. Bake 35 minutes or until set. Serve warm with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce. Note: Substitute 1/4 C. apple juice for the Irish whiskey, if desired.
Caramel Sauce: Combine sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until golden (do not stir). Remove from heat. Carefully add butter and cream cheese, stirring constantly with a whisk (mixture will be hot and bubble vigorously). Cool slightly, and stir in whiskey and milk.
