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.
Elle says
More temptation! Anything Dorie is bound to be good and I love bread puddings. MMMM.
ruthEbabes says
This sounds ooooohhhh soooooo gooooood!!!!!
I’m craving some now!
Kelly-Jane says
This was one of the first recipes I made from Baking, because I wanted to make something without going shopping!
Mmm, seeing it again I remember how good it was.
Meeta says
Yum! i am freakin over a few of Dorie’s recipe lately (why would that be?) and this really looks good. If you have not already I made the chocolate pots de creme and they are delicious. I have to try this one!
kat says
oh my husband would love this one
Patricia Scarpin says
Deb, I have never tried bread pudding, can you believe it? This is luscious, my friend!
Chuck says
Bread pudding always reminds me of my grandma. She would make it every time we visited. I’ll have to give this recipe a try. Thank you
Cookie baker Lynn says
Also, please stop by my blog to pick up an award!
Cookie baker Lynn says
You can’t go wrong with Dorie. This looks delicious!
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
Oh goodness, bread pudding is my love! This looks so delicious Deborah! Wow!
When we made bagels in the DB challenge, I used the leftovers to make a pudding. It was great! I am sure your french bread version was to die for! great use of leftovers! 😉
chou says
I’ll have to try this, most bread pudding recipes I’ve tried just never work out to be as good as I imagine.
Cakespy says
How delicious. This really does look wonderful. Bread, chocolate, pudding. Even separate they’re great–but together…a trinity of awesome.
Madam Chow says
Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts! I’ll have to try this one.
Dana says
I’ve sort of been on Dorie hiatus for a while… This makes me want to break open that book again!
Ryley says
yum.. That looks so good!!
I bet it was even yummy for breakfast this morning!
I struggle with cooking yummy deserts for 2 also!
I always want something good..
but I don’t want to make something big and waste it..
Steph says
Man, I feel like a total loser that I have no idea who Dorie is…I guess I’ll have to change that! Your bread pudding looks great!