This is the ultimate recipe for an easy and decadent dessert !
This is a classic bread pudding made with a dark chocolate-studded bread from the Berkshire Mountain Bakery. Any bread will do (challah or brioche are always a good choice), but the sourdough boule flecked with giant chunks of chocolate is another level. It’s a wonderful dish for parties and large gatherings since it can be made ahead and is served easily family style.
Equipment: cutting board, chef’s knife, bread knife, wet and dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, large and medium mixing bowls, rubber spatula, 2-quart casserole, shallow roasting pan, whisk, wooden spoon
Ingredients: 8 thick slices day-old chocolate chip bread, cubed 3 cups whole milk ¾ cup heavy cream ¾ cup sugar 3 large eggs 3 tablespoons butter, melted seeds from half a vanilla bean ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
“Stale bread makes the best bread pudding! ILOC tip: If you slice and cube the bread the day before you make the bread pudding and leave it uncoverd overnight, you will have the perfect bread pudding bread!”
“If you don't have chocolate chip bread, substitute with 8 thick slices of sourdough plus 2 cups of hand-cut dark chocolate or dark chocolate chunks."
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF; place the rack in the center of the oven.
2. Place the bread pieces in a large bowl. Add the milk and cream, and stir well to soak all pieces. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and creamy, and lightened in color. Add the melted butter, vanilla seeds, and cinnamon. Pour this mixture over the milk-soaked bread (then stir in the chocolate chunks if using regular sourdough sans chocolate).
4. Pour the mixture in a casserole set in a shallow roasting pan and prepare a water bath: pour enough boiling water in the roasting pan to reach half-way up the sides of the casserole.
5. Bake until set and golden brown, about 45 minutes.
6. Remove the bread pudding from the roasting pan. Serve immediately or chilled from the refrigerator the next day.
Makes 12 servings.
Beat Sugar and Eggs Properly
Sugar cooks eggs. Yes, that’s right. If you pour sugar on eggs and do not stir immediately, the sugar will curdle the eggs eventually. Go ahead…try it. You’ll see!
When a recipe instructs you, for instance, to beat ¾ cup sugar with 6 eggs (or egg yolks) it is important that you do it immediately. Have the whisk right next to the bowl so you are ready to beat the eggs once you add the sugar. Stir vigorously in a circular motion for a few minutes until the eggs lighten in color to a pale yellow hue and fluffy texture.
The benefit of this technique, known as blanchir in formal cooking terms, is that it prevents the sugar from curdling the eggs, and the act of whitening and lightening helps to leaven batters, much like does the proper creaming of butter and sugar.
Sugar cooks eggs. I had to re-read that a few times. Pittsfield - I was just there and will have to add this shop to the list, post Covid. What dark chocolate chunks do you use? Percentage dark?