Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Drain the jar of cherries but reserve 1 TB of the cherry juice. Chop the cherries coarsely. The first time I made this I used a food processor and got them too fine. More chunky is definately better.
• In a large bowl, combine 1 TB of cherry juice, eggs and next 4 ingredients and stir will.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Add the bread cubes and let stand for 15 minutes on the counter, stirring occasionally. After 15 minutes, stir in the chocolate chips and cherries.
• Spoon this mixture into a greased 9 inch square pan (I used a bread pan with good results) and bake, uncovered for 50-60 minutes or until set.
• Garnish, if you want to, with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.
• Cook time includes 15 minutes soaking time for french bread cubes.

CHOCOLATE-DRIED CHERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the dark chocolate chips in a large heatproof bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until well combined.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the cream, milk, brandy, orange zest, vanilla seeds, salt, and granulated sugar to a boil; stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot liquid over the dark chocolate chips and whisk until melted and smooth. While whisking constantly, pour the dark chocolate mixture into the eggs, mixing until combined. Add the bread and toss gently to coat. Transfer the bread mixture to the refrigerator and cool to room temperature. Stir in the chocolate chips and dried cherries. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Put eight 4-ounce ramekins on a baking sheet and lightly coat them with cooking spray.
• Stir the bread pudding mixture to evenly distribute the chocolate chips and cherries. Divide the mixture among the prepared ramekins. Sprinkle a little Turbinado sugar over the top of each pudding and bake until puffed and set, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BREAD PUDDING WITH VANILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the vanilla sauce: Bring the milk and salt to a simmer over medium heat in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together the yolks and sugar in a bowl until combined, and then add to the hot milk in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer the custard back to the saucepan and cook over moderately-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard coats back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the vanilla. Cover the surface of the custard with a round of wax paper and chill until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For the bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, toss together the donut slices, dried cherries and white chocolate. Set aside. In second large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Measure out 1/4 cup of spiced sugar into a small bowl and set aside.
• In a third large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk and vanilla. Whisk the eggs into the large bowl of spiced sugar, and then pour over the bread-chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Pour the batter into a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan and sprinkle with the reserved 1/4 cup spiced sugar. Scatter the butter cubes over top and bake until golden brown and just set in middle, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve with the vanilla sauce.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-CHERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine dried cherries, juice and 2 tablespoons sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and stir a minute or two until sugar dissolves.
• Remove from heat and set aside. (Note: If you use Grand Marnier instead, combine cherries and liqueur in a bowl, cover and allow to sit overnight to soak.)
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, combine white chocolate, half & half, milk and sugar, heating over medium heat about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring until chocolate melts and is thoroughly combined.
• Add cinnamon and nutmeg and reduce heat to simmer.
• Stir a little of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs and stir well to temper the eggs. Slowly add the tempered eggs into the white-chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
• Drain cherries and reserve the liquid.
• Butter a 9x9-inch baking pan or 8 ramekins.
• Place half the cubed buns in the pan or ramekins, top with half of the cherries. Follow with the rest of the cubed buns and the remaining cherries.
• Ladle the white chocolate liquid over the bread and cherries. Press down slightly to make sure the liquid soaks into the bread thoroughly.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes away clean. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• Make topping by combining creme fraiche, confectioner's sugar and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved cherry liquid, stirring well.
• Top the bread pudding with the creme and serve warm.