Chocolate Bread Pudding
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Calling all chocolate lovers! Made from challah soaked in a rich chocolate custard, this dark chocolate bread pudding is pure comfort in every spoonful.
This rich chocolate bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food for chocolate lovers. Made with challah bread, a hot chocolate-flavored custard, and plenty of chocolate chunks, it’s a deeply chocolatey and satisfying dessert. I like to add a splash of bourbon to the custard to enhance the chocolate flavor, but if you’d rather not use alcohol, you can use brewed coffee instead. Serve the bread pudding warm from the oven topped with vanilla ice cream.
Table of Contents
“I made this for my husband for Valentine’s Day…He called it ‘a gastronomic explosion of chocolate deliciousness.’ And it truly is.”
What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Bread Pudding
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Provides a rich and deep chocolate flavor. Choose a good quality chocolate for the best results.
- Whole Milk: The base of your custard, whole milk adds creaminess and richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the pudding, balancing the bitterness of the chocolate and cocoa powder.
- Cocoa Powder: Enhances the chocolate flavor, giving the pudding an extra depth of chocolatey goodness.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
- Bourbon: Adds wonderful depth of flavor.
- Cinnamon: Provides a warm, spicy undertone that complements the chocolate.
- Eggs: Essential for the custard base, eggs help to thicken the mixture and give it structure.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the pudding.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic pairing with chocolate that rounds out the flavor.
- Challah: With pillowy texture and slightly sweet flavor, it’s perfect for soaking up the chocolate custard mixture.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Chop the chocolate into ¼-inch chunks. Reserve ⅓ cup and set aside (you’ll use this for sprinkling over the bread pudding before baking).
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar and cocoa powder. Add the butter and bring to a boil.
Off the heat, add the remaining chocolate, bourbon and cinnamon.
Whisk to combine.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt and vanilla extract.
Very gradually, pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking vigorously to combine (pour slowly, especially at the beginning, or the hot chocolate mixture will scramble the eggs).
Add the bread cubes to the chocolate custard.
Cover and let soak in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the chocolate bread mixture to the prepared baking dish. Scatter the reserved chocolate over top, then use a spoon to push about half of the chocolate bits down into the pudding.
Bake until slightly puffed and set in the center, 45 to 55 minutes.
Let cool about 10 minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prepare chocolate bread pudding in advance. Assemble the bread pudding and refrigerate it before baking. You can keep it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. When you’re ready to serve, bake it according to the recipe instructions. Just remember to give it a little extra time in the oven if you’re starting from cold.
Yes, it can also be frozen, after baking, for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Before serving, reheat in a 300°F-oven until warmed through.
Challah is a great choice for bread pudding due to its rich, eggy texture and slightly sweet flavor. Other good options include brioche or a sturdy French bread.
Yes, the bourbon can be substituted based on preference. You can use another type of liquor like rum or brandy to add a different flavor profile. If you prefer not to use any alcohol, simply replace it with more milk or coffee.
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Chocolate Bread Pudding
Calling all chocolate lovers! Made from challah soaked in a rich chocolate custard, this dark chocolate bread pudding is pure comfort in every spoonful.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (packed) 1-inch challah cubes (about 9 oz), from 1 loaf
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Chop the chocolate into ¼-inch chunks. Reserve ⅓ cup and set aside (you'll use this for sprinkling over the bread pudding before baking).
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, sugar, and cocoa powder. Add the butter and bring to a boil. Off the heat, add the remaining chocolate, bourbon and cinnamon and whisk until smooth.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, and vanilla extract. Very gradually, pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking vigorously to combine (pour slowly, especially at the beginning, or the hot chocolate mixture will scramble the eggs). Add the bread cubes to the custard; cover and let soak in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the chocolate bread mixture to the prepared baking dish. Scatter the reserved chocolate over top, then use a spoon to push about half of the chocolate bits down into the pudding. Bake until slightly puffed and set in the center, about 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bread pudding can be assembled and refrigerated overnight before baking; just remember to give it a few extra minutes in the oven if starting from cold. It can also be frozen, after baking, for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Before serving, reheat in a 300°F-oven until warmed through.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Calories: 381
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Sugar: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Sodium: 258 mg
- Cholesterol: 127 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Would you be able to substitute brioche bread for this recipe? Thanks!! Planning to make this for my birthday.
Hi Samantha, If you want to use brioche, I’d go with this recipe instead. Happy birthday! 🙂
Thanks!! I’ll try to find some of the recipe’s bread as I want to try the chocolate version. 😊 Could you use dark chocolate in this?
Thank you!!
Sure, dark chocolate will work here. 🙂
Made this to bring to someone’s house; a huge hit! I loved it because I did it all the night before, then brought it to my friend’s house and baked it there while we ate. The only thing I did different than the recipe stated is to use chocolate chips instead of chopping up chocolate. My husband thought that I should double the bourbon next time!
Definitely on my “do again” list!
Can you substitute something else for the bourbon? Thank you!!
Sure Samantha – you can replace it with either rum or coffe. Hope you enjoy!
I want to make this but I have a question ? Can I make the whole recipe , put it in two containers, bake and freeze one and reheat ? Or best to just half the recipe ?
Hi Doreen, I’d just halve the recipe. I don’t think it would freeze very well because of all the heavy cream — sorry!
Hi, Jenn –
Are you letting the bread get stale or using it fresh?
Hi Terri, No need to let the bread get stale. Hope you enjoy!
I made this recipe last week with my homemade sourdough bread. I didn’t have challah or brioche bread available. Turned out really really good!!!! I cut off the crust which tends to be really hard. I also used Irish cream instead of bourbon cos it’s what I had, walnuts to add a little crunch and topped with toffee bits. It was my first time making bread pudding I was really happy with the results. Thank you for all your amazing recipes.
This is one of the best desserts I have ever made! Absolutely delicious! Also made homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it! Thanks to Jenn, I bought the ice cream machine she recommended. It was just as delicious reheating individual servings in the microwave as when it first came out of the oven.
Hi Jenn.
Can i make white chocolate instead of dark chocolate? If is yes what is the recipe for white chocolate sauce?i want to make this for new year.
Thank
Hi Fanny, I recommend sticking with dark chocolate here. Sorry!
Hi! I’m planning on making this very soon! My 1st question is, can I use french bread? And, can I use milk chocolate instead?
I don’t recommend those substitutes, Gigi. Sorry!
DRATS!!! I’ve read this too late regarding the French bread! Oh well it’s soaking now, I’ll let you know how it turned out tomorrow.
what kind of bread can be used instead of challah?
Hi Aparna, Brioche would also work nicely here. Hope you enjoy!