CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

This Christmas instead of a pie I decided to make Chocolate Bread Pudding.  I learned this from my girlfriend Sandy who is a fantastic cook.  It's really delicious.  Some like to serve it with ice cream but I like to serve it with fresh whipped cream as an option.  Of course, if you are watching your calories you may not want to add either...

Serves 8-10

1/2 - 1 loaf of white or Challah bread - cut into 1” cubes

12 oz. chocolate (dark or semi-sweet chips) equals 1 1/2 cups

4 tablespoons butter

5 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 1/2 cups half and half

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of cinnamon

9” x 13” baking dish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place bread cubes in a 9” x 13” baking dish.

Melt chocolate and butter in a pot.

Cool chocolate mixture.

Mix egg and sugar together with a whisk.

Warm half and half with vanilla and cinnamon together.

Mix chocolate mixture with the eggs.

Add the cream a little at a time to the egg and chocolate mixture and mix well.

Pour over bread cubes making sure to saturate each cube.

Let sit for 10 minutes before putting in oven.

Place in a bain-marie (a larger pan with about 1” of water).

Bake 45 minutes till set.

Cool for about 45 minutes and serve with whipped cream.