Decadent Chocolate & Cream Cheese Bread Pudding Recipe
This Decadent Chocolate & Cream Cheese Bread Pudding is a rich and indulgent dessert featuring soft pieces of brioche or challah soaked in a creamy custard, studded with luscious cream cheese cubes and dark chocolate chunks. Baked to golden perfection with a gooey, creamy center, it’s the ultimate comfort treat perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes (including soaking time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf (about 1 pound) sweet bread (like brioche or challah), torn into 1-inch pieces
Custard
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Fillings
- 8 ounces cream cheese, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chunks or chips, divided
Others
- Unsalted butter, for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with unsalted butter. Scatter the torn sweet bread pieces evenly across the dish to create an even base.
- Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a rich custard.
- Soak the bread: Pour the custard evenly over the bread pieces in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread to ensure it is fully submerged and absorbing the custard. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes, or for best results, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to develop a moist, gooey texture.
- Add the fillings: After soaking, gently fold in the cream cheese cubes and 1 cup of the dark chocolate chunks, evenly distributing them throughout the soaked bread mixture without breaking the bread pieces too much.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chunks evenly over the top of the pudding. Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the center is set but still slightly jiggly when gently shaken, indicating a creamy interior.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bread pudding from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This cooling period lets the custard finish setting and ensures the center stays gooey and luscious. Serve warm for the best experience.
Notes
- Allowing the bread to soak for at least 30 minutes up to overnight is crucial to achieve a moist and gooey interior.
- Do not overbake; the pudding should still be slightly jiggly at the center when removed to ensure a creamy texture once cooled.
- Using rich bread like brioche or challah enhances the pudding’s flavor and texture.
- Chilling the cream cheese before adding helps it hold shape during baking.
- Serve warm to enjoy the melty chocolate and creamy filling at its best.
Keywords: bread pudding, chocolate dessert, cream cheese, brioche, challah, custard dessert, gooey bread pudding
