4 from 1 vote

Dorie Greenspan's Chocolate Bread Pudding

This chocolate bread pudding by the doyenne of baking, Dorie Greenspan, come together easily. Just brioche, raisins, milk, cream, eggs, sugar, and, of course, chocolate. A stunner.

Prep Time30

Cook Time1 15

Total Time1 45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 526

Ingredients

▢ 12 ounces bread, such as brioche, challah, or white, preferably stale
▢ 1/2 cup moist, plump raisins, dark or golden or dried cherries (optional)
▢ 3 cups whole milk
▢ 1 cup heavy cream
▢ 3 large eggs
▢ 4 large egg yolks
▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
▢ 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

US - Metric

Instructions

Have ready a 9-by-13-inch baking dish as well as a roasting pan big enough to hold the baking pan. Line the roasting pan with a double thickness of paper towels.
Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes. If the bread is day-old, put it and the raisins or cherries, if you are using them, into the baking pan. If it isn't stale, spread it out on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat and bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes to dry out and then toss into the pan with the fruit.
Bring the milk and cream just to a boil in a small saucepan.
Fill a teakettle with water and put it on to boil. When the water boils, turn off the heat. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, yolks, and sugar together in a bowl. Still whisking, slowly drizzle in about a 1/4 of the hot milk mixture—this will temper, or warm, the eggs so they don't curdle. Whisking all the while, slowly pour in the rest of the hot milk. Add the chocolate and whisk it in gently until it's melted and the custard is smooth. Rap the bowl against the counter to pop any bubbles that might have formed and then pour the custard over the bread and press the bread gently with the back of a spoon to help cover it with liquid. Leave the pan on the counter, giving the bread the back-of-the-spoon treatment now and then, for 30 minutes.
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Put the baking dish holding the unbaked pudding into the roasting pan, and then slide the pan setup into the oven and very carefully pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the pudding pan. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the pudding is uniformly puffed, the top is dull and dry, and a thin knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean. Transfer the baking pan to a rack and let it cool. You could serve this pudding warm, but it's better at cool room temperature or even chilled—it also cuts better when it's cold. Serve the pudding simply with a dusting of confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Notes

A la mode

Try this dessert dolloped or topped with chocolate sauce, or whipped cream, crème fraîche, or crème anglaise flavored with vanilla or rum or Grand Marnier or brandy.

Nutrition