Tender and perfect, this Chocolate Bread Pudding is for chocolate lovers! A chocolate custard gives this bread pudding it’s rich flavor, and chunks of chocolate bring in even more flavor.
If you are a bread pudding fan, you also need to try this Red Velvet Bread Pudding!
Life is funny.
When I was a kid, I would have never eaten bread pudding. I did not like any kind of soggy bread. You know how people love to eat cake and ice cream together? I’d always have mine on separate plates so that the ice cream wouldn’t melt and make my cake soggy.
But once I grew up, I discovered that I actually really like soggy bread – when it comes in the form of bread pudding!
It is now one of my favorite desserts. And I’m sure this chocolate bread pudding is good enough to convert any other bread pudding haters!
Ingredients:
- Bread: You can use many different kinds of bread here. I used brioche, but challah, white bread, or even French bread would work great. It is best when it is stale, so make sure to dry it out some in the oven if it is not already stale.
- Milk and Cream: You’ll want a mixture of milk and cream. I would not suggest using all milk. You can use half and half instead of the milk and cream mixture, if desired.
- Eggs and Yolks: This recipe uses a mix of whole eggs and egg yolks to give it the best texture and richness.
- Sugar: You only need a half cup of sugar.
- Chocolate: I suggest using real chocolate here – not chocolate chips. You want your chocolate to melt well and incorporate into the custard. I use a mixture of bittersweet chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate.
How to Make Chocolate Bread Pudding
If your bread is fairly fresh, you’ll want to toast the bread cubes first. Feel free to skip this if you are using stale bread.
Heat the milk and the cream together. You don’t need to go crazy – just heat it until it is about to boil.
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and the sugar.
Slowly start to whisk in the hot milk mixture. You want to make sure you are whisking the entire time so that you don’t end up with scrambled eggs.
Add in the bittersweet chocolate as well as half of the semi-sweet chocolate.
Whisk this all together until the chocolate is melted completely.
Place your bread cubes in a greased baking dish, then pour the custard mixture over the top. Use your hands or a spatula to press down on the bread – you want to make sure it is all soaked by the custard.
Add the remaining semi-sweet chocolate to the top. I like to press this in with my hands a bit so that some of it makes its way into the nooks and crannies.
Bake!
Tips and Tricks
When you are chopping your semi-sweet chocolate, you want to make sure it is chopped fairly evenly. Simply because you are adding half of it to the top of the bread pudding, and you want to make sure you can evenly disperse the chocolate.
If you have some extra time, you can pour the custard over the top and let the dish sit for 30 minutes so that the custard can really soak in well.
Add in some dried cherries or some raisins for extra flavor and texture.
How to Serve Chocolate Bread Pudding
One thing I love about this recipe is that it is not pretentious and you can pretty much serve it anyway you want.
Warm out of the oven? Yes!
At room temperature? Yes!
Straight from the refrigerator? Yes!
My personal favorite way to serve it is warm with fresh whipped cream on top. The whipped cream starts to melt and it’s just wonderful.
My second preference is cold, and while it is still good while at room temperature, that is probably my least favorite way to serve it.
You can serve up a slice simply as is, or with whipped cream, as I suggested. It would also be great with some raspberries served alongside. I also like to sprinkle it with powdered sugar.
More Chocolate Desserts
Chocolate Mousse
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Chocolate Cream Pie
Homemade Brownies
Chocolate Pound Cake
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Chocolate Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- 16 oz bread brioche, challah, French bread, or white bread, preferably stale
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 large eggs
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped, divided
- Fresh whipped cream for serving optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cut the bread into 1 inch cubes. If the bread is stale, add it to the prepared baking dish. If it is more fresh, spread it out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, mixing halfway though the baking time. Then transfer the bread cubes to the baking dish.
- Combine the milk and the cream in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until right before it starts to boil.
- While the milk is heating, combine the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar and whisk until smooth. Slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture, making sure to vigorously whisk as you are adding it to avoid curdling the eggs. Add all of the bittersweet chocolate and half of the semi-sweet chocolate. Continue to whisk until the chocolate is melted.
- Pour the chocolate custard over the top of the bread in the baking dish. Use your hands or a spatula to gently press the bread down into the custard, making sure all of the bread is soaked.
- Sprinkle the remaining semi-sweet chocolate evenly over the top. If desired, use your hands or a spatula to gently press the chocolate in so that not all of it is on top of the bread.
- Transfer the dish to the oven. Bake until the pudding is puffed and browned, 35-45 minutes. If you shake the dish, it will have just a slight jiggle to it. Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve the bread pudding warm or at room temperature, topped with fresh whipped cream, if desired.
Mary says
I’m impressed you had French bread left! I keep making it and eating it up! This bread pudding looks delicious. I am going to have to order this book!
Tartelette says
I lurve that recipe….I need to make it again soon! Makes me hungry just to look at it again!
nicisme says
I really like this, yours makes me want some right now!
eatme_delicious says
I’m really intrigued by bread pudding but have only tried it a couple of times and don’t quite like the mushy aspect of it. I should try out Dorie’s recipe though as hers are always great!
StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says
What a great way to use up that French bread! It looks fab! I just made plain old bread crumbs with mine.
Brilynn says
I haven’t tried this one yet! Probably because I’m iffy on bread pudding… but I know Dorie’s is good, I made her apple bread pudding and it was fantastic.
Gretchen Noelle says
How tasty this looks! I bookmarked it hoping that one day I try it. I am not a huge bread pudding person, but several I know are and it would be fun to try a chocolate one!