Double Chocolate Bread Pudding

That's right! Double Chocolate Bread Pudding! 

One of my favorite creations...mixing my love of sweet bread and molten chocolate lava cake. Honestly I was missing New Orleans and bread pudding seemed like the cure, then I remembered that we were visiting my aunt and uncle! Perfect timing. There was no way that we could eat it all on our own and it was too special not to share. 

To start I set the oven to 325 and buttered a 13 x 9 inch pan. Next I whipped up the 6 eggs and set aside and sifted the cocoa powder into a bowl. Then I proceeded to cut up my Brioche bread into about 1 inch pieces and placed them onto a baking sheet to toast for about 10 mins (turning them halfway through). This added more structure to the bread, which would soon be drowning in chocolate goodness. Once golden brown I set them aside to cool and poured the pieces into the buttered pan.

I put the chocolate pieces into a bowl and then brought the milk, cream, sugar and salt to a boil in a large pot. After stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar I removed it from the heat and added in the vanilla. Then I held my breath and watched Craig pour it over the chocolate chips. The chips quickly began melting under the warmth. 
I let the mixture sit for about 5 mins then it was time to whisk to perfection. Slowly the milk turned into a rich hot chocolate. Next I took a 1/2 cup to whisk into the cocoa powder, added another 1/2 cup and then mixed in the eggs. The chocolate was getting big by that point so I transferred it to a larger bowl and added in the rest of the chocolate! Next step, pouring all but 1 cup over the bread. After this step you have to wait....

The last time I made bread pudding it was good but it didn't quite turn out how it was supposed to. This time, I really took the extra time to let it sit and soak. That made such a difference. I checked on the bread every 15 mins or so and pushed the pieces down and added in the extra chocolate mix to fully saturate the dish. 

Craig and I headed over the 17 to my aunt's house in Fremont to finish the dish. Bread pudding can take awhile and the car trip added some extra soaking time! With their oven at 350 I covered the dish with tinfoil and set it in a large baking dish with about an inch of water. After baking for 45 mins I removed the foil and let the pudding bake for another 25 mins (until it starts to puff in the middle).

As the pudding cooled I quickly started the caramel sauce. I combined the sugar and water in a saucepan, heating until the sugar liquefied. I continued to cook until the sugar turned a medium amber color. Turned off the heat and then added the milk, softened butter, Bourbon and salt. Mixed to perfection!

I don't think delicious is a strong enough work to accurately describe this chocolate bread pudding....scrumptious AF maybe. I don't even know if there is a word. The sauce was such an indulgent touch. Not too sweet and with a hint of rich bourbon flavor. I'm so happy I got to share this dish with family! So worth the wait! One of the best parts is that it saves well. I warmed up a scoop this evening, and some chilled bourbon sauce and my mouth almost wasn't prepared for it! So good and satisfying! My mouth already misses it!

Thanks! Bunny

This was my last piece...note the sad bunny...

Behind the scenes...

Bread Pudding First Attempt

Morning!! 

Bread pudding has always been yummy but my true love for it bloomed while we were in New Orleans. For our anniversary date we went to the Commanders Palace which in it's own right was magical and had their famous bread pudding for dessert. Every bite was a piece of heaven!

 I found an older cook book for the Palace and decided to try their bread pudding recipe. For an amateur baker I believe it turned out rather well but there were a few little problems. Which is why I say that this is my first attempt! Even though I really don't need more delicious pudding around the house. I have absolutely no control when it comes to desserts...I can not be trusted! he he

Pudding Ingredients:

1 cup Sugar 

8 tablespoons Butter; softened 

5 Egg; beaten 

1 pint Heavy cream 

1 dash Cinnamon 

1 tablespoon Vanilla extract 

¼ cup Raisins 

12 slices French bread, fresh or stale; 1" thick 

Rum Sauce:

1 cup Sugar 

2¼ cup Water 

1 Cinnamon stick; OR 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, ground 

1 tablespoon Butter, sweet 

½ teaspoon Cornstarch 

1 tablespoon Rum, light or dark 

To start I cut up my bread into 12 slices and preheated my oven to 350. 

Then started on the mixture, adding the sugar and butter first then the eggs (beaten), cream, raisins, cinnamon and vanilla.

 In a small pan I added the mixture and placed the bread pieces over the top. I let them soak for 5 mins then flipped them over for another 5 to 10 mins. After the bread has hopefully soaked up a lot of the pudding mixture, push them to the bottom of the pan. 

Place the pan in a larger one with about a few inches of water. Cover the pan with tinfoil and place in the oven.

Cook for 35 mins and then remove the tinfoil and cook for an additional 10 mins.

 I think this might have been where I went wrong, I may have not cooked the pudding long enough. It was still a bit soupy. I tried to cook it for a bit longer and it got a little firmer.

While the dish cooked I made the rum sauce! In a pot I stirred together the sugar, water (2 cups), ground cinnamon and butter, bringing it to a boil. Then added the remaining water and cornstarch, switching to a simmer and stirring. The sauce is supposed to become clear but I couldn't get it that close. Either way it was yummy! Once "clear" I removed the pot from the heat and added the rum.
I spooned out some of the bread pudding into a bowl and added the rum sauce....what resulted after that moment can only be described as pure satisfaction...the look of contentment and joy washed over our faces as we consumed bite after bite. This bread pudding was warm, sweet and hearty. Even though it was not quite Commanders status it was no less scrumptious. I will definitely be giving this a second try!!!

Thanks for readin! -Bunny