Decadent Chocolate & Cream Cheese Bread Pudding: Gooey Perfection Recipe
This Decadent Chocolate & Cream Cheese Bread Pudding is a luxurious dessert featuring soft brioche soaked in a rich custard, studded with cream cheese cubes and dark chocolate chunks. Baked to golden perfection with a gooey, creamy center, it’s a comforting treat perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes (including soaking time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf sweet bread (like brioche or challah), about 1 pound, 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
Other
- 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 bread pieces evenly in the prepared dish to create an even layer.
- Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and well combined, forming a rich custard base.
- Soak the bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread in the baking dish. Gently press the bread pieces down to ensure they are fully submerged and absorb the custard. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or preferably cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to ensure a moist and gooey interior.
- Add the fillings: After soaking, gently fold in the cream cheese cubes and 1 cup of the dark chocolate chunks, distributing them evenly throughout the soaked bread mixture.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chunks over the top of the bread pudding. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is set but still slightly jiggly when gently shaken. Avoid overbaking to maintain a gooey center as the pudding will continue to set upon cooling.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread pudding from the oven and allow it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes. This resting time lets the creamy center stabilize for perfect gooeyness. Serve warm for the best experience.
Notes
- Ensuring adequate soaking time (at least 30 minutes, preferably several hours or overnight) is crucial for a moist, gooey texture.
- Do not overbake the pudding; the center should be slightly jiggly when removed from the oven as it continues to set while cooling.
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor balance with the creamy custard and cream cheese.
- For easier slicing, chill the pudding slightly after cooling before serving if preferred.
Keywords: Chocolate bread pudding, Cream cheese dessert, Gooey bread pudding, Brioche dessert, Chocolate custard, Comfort food dessert
