I’m gravitating to the comfort food lately that can be informally spooned from a bowl while sitting on a sofa and watching Sponge Bob with the kid. I know I will pay the price later exhausting myself with some sort of diet and pilates. This is the food my personal fitness trainer (if I had one) wouldn’t probably approve. But you have to give your soul what it’s asking for… right? I’ll deal with the consequences later, when the spring comes. Or summer.
Makes about 10 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 cups half-and-half (10 % cream)
- 1 can (14 oz) dulce de leche (I always make mine by boiling a can of condensed milk for a couple of hours. I’ve been doing it for years without any accidents. It is safe, but make sure to use the biggest pot available, so, the water level will be well above the can all the time during the process (take an 8-quart pot if you have). And it makes a perfect sense to boil two or even three cans at a time.)
- 8 cups about 1-inch-size cinnamon swirl bread cubes, lightly toasted (toast the slices in the toaster first, then cut them into cubes; or toast the cubes in the 350F oven for about 10 minutes, stirring once). I bake my own bread using this recipe, omitting the raisins and using all stated butter and cinnamon sugar for spreading/sprinkling over the rolled dough. But a store-brought bread will work just fine.
- 4 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp rum
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped medium-fine
- 1 tbsp Demerara sugar for sprinkling
- Whipped cream with a touch of rum for serving (optional)
- Dulce de leche sauce and/or your favorite chocolate sauce for serving (optional)
Preparation:
Generously butter a 7×11-inch or 9×13-inch ceramic or glass baking dish.
Place the cream and dulce de leche in a medium heavy saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring, until the dulce de leche is melted and the mixture is smooth. Take of the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Place the bread cubes into a large bowl. Set aside for a moment.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, rum, vanilla extract, and salt. Gradually, in a thin stream, whisk in the dulce de leche/cream mixture. Pour over the bread cubes and let soak for an hour, stirring gently once or twice, until the liquid is absorbed.
If you plan to bake the pudding the same day, center an oven rack and preheat the oven to 350F.
Once the custard is absorbed, delicately stir in the chopped chocolate and transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan. The pudding can be made a day ahead up to this point. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let it stand at room temperature while preheating the oven.
Sprinkle the top of the pudding with the Demerara sugar. Place the baking dish in a large roasting pan, lined with a dish towel. Place the roasting pan on the oven rack, and pour enough hot water into the larger pan to come halfway up the sides of the pudding dish.
Bake the pudding for about 45 minutes, or just until the center is set when gently shaken. Transfer the pudding dish to a cooling rack and cool slightly. Serve with the whipped cream and the dulce de leche/chocolate sauce.
For the dulce de leche sauce, combine one part of the dulce de leche and one part of whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat, whisking, to dissolve the dulce de leche, then add a splash of rum.
February 16, 2009 at 6:29 am
OMG, yes please!
February 13, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Vera per my husbands request, last weekend I made peach bread pudding with brandy wine as a flavoring. Bread pudding has always been one of our favorites. I love your cinnamon chocolate with dulce de leche version. So delectable! :)
February 12, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Helen, thank you, dear :)
Ana, you are right, it’s a good way to utilize some bread leftovers :)
February 12, 2009 at 12:59 am
Sometimes, I don´t know what to make with briche or sweet bread leftover and I thin that is a parfect recipe…
February 11, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Definitely something this Pilates instructor approves of! Looks scrumptious!
February 11, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Christy, thank you, dear! You made me feel so much better :)
Patricia, you are more than welcome!
Sophie, thank you very much!
Y, I wish it was a bit warmer here, and less damp.
Marina, thank you very much!
Jacque, I do the same :) Isn’t he hilarious?! I’m glad you liked the sound of the BP :) Thank you!
February 11, 2009 at 5:08 pm
LOL, I still laugh at Sponge Bob, even after seeing every episode 25 times.
Sounds like good quality time with your child… something he or she will remember many years from now, no doubt.
The BP sound wonderful! I’ve never tried chocolate BP… I’m intrigued.
February 11, 2009 at 1:38 am
Woow, this sounds and looks way to good to pass. I am sure that this is more of a comfort food then a “holiday” food, but i am thinking to make it for Valentines as one of the desert dishes.
Almost swallowed my toungue while reading this)))
February 10, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Thank goodness the weather is cooler here this week. Bread pudding sounds rather good right now!
February 10, 2009 at 6:03 am
…but I approve of this, two thumbs way up! I love a good bread pudding!
February 10, 2009 at 4:33 am
Vera, all my favorites together in a comforting dessert?? I’ll have seconds and thirds, thank you very much! :D
February 10, 2009 at 3:39 am
Don’t worry about the weight today. Worry about it tomorrow. And then forget it again the moment you want to indulge. I probably won’t make a very good personal trainer, but hell, who would with that pudding in front of them?
February 9, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Marion, thank you! Any Sunday :)
Rosa, it is soothing :) Thank you!
Natalie, thank you! I’m glad you are with me on this pudding; I know you don’t share my love to Sponge Bob :)
Pigpigscorner, thank you! I do, too :)
Elyse, thank you very much! I’ll check your cake, I’m sure it’s divine.
Stephanie, it tastes pretty good :) Thank you!
Jen, thank you very much! I’ve just posted the detailed instruction how to boil it safely. If you have any questions, please, ask.
Dana, thank you! I do love summer berry pudding myself :) Isn’t it great to discover something new and delicious?
Heather, you are welcome to join me any time :)
Meeta, thank you so much!
Maya, thank you!. I simmer it for 2 1/2. I’ve just posted the instruction how to do it.
Natalia, thank you very much!
Grace, thank you very much! Such love is very understandable :)
Eileen, thank you!
CookiePie, thanks a lot!
Deeba, it would be so great if you could join me :) Thank you!
Aran, thank you! It is quite comforting, indeed :)
Lisa, thank you very much!
Abby, thank you! Can’t agree with you more – this is a very effective way of utilizing of bread leftovers :)
February 9, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I love a good breed pudding. One, it is a great way to use up stale bread. The flavors sound amazing.
February 9, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Sounds decadent and most definitely comforting. I’ve been hitting the sofa often too. I’ve been in a comfort food mood lately! Looks delicious!
February 9, 2009 at 4:45 pm
definitely comfort food. sounds delicious!
February 9, 2009 at 7:45 am
I’m right next to you on the sofa Vera, & though my kids have grown out of SpongeBob, I’ll gladly watch & share a bite of this delicious pudding with you!
February 9, 2009 at 6:08 am
WOW – that looks beyond decadent and fabulous!!
February 9, 2009 at 5:31 am
Wish I had some of this around for breakfast this morning.
February 9, 2009 at 5:22 am
i can’t say enough how much i love both cinnamon and dulce de leche. now you’ve gone and tossed in some chocolate. unbeatable. :)
February 9, 2009 at 3:00 am
Your version of bread pudding is fabulous !
February 9, 2009 at 12:24 am
Hi Vera
Absolutely lovely. How many hours do you boil the condensed milk to get the dulce de leche ?
February 8, 2009 at 11:46 pm
this is so incredibly decadent!! love the combinations here!
February 8, 2009 at 6:01 pm
i could curl up with a big bowl of that and glass of milk right now! please?
cheers,
*heather*
http://squirrelbread.wordpress.com
February 8, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Now that is just too dangerous for me to even contemplate making. Chocolate and caramel is impossible for me to resist. I made my first bread pudding this past summer with berries and wondered under what rock I had been hiding! :)
February 8, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I don’t even know what to write… this recipe looks so amazing. I love bread pudding and dulce de leche and chocolate. And all three together would be phenomenal. I’ve never heard of your method of making dulce de leche before and have to say that I’m a bit skeptical but if you’ve never had a can blow up all over your kitchen maybe I should give it a try.
February 8, 2009 at 9:49 am
Dulce de leche is one of my favorite things to eat. This combination must taste incredible!!
<3
February 8, 2009 at 9:40 am
wow! first of all, i love bread pudding. there is something so decadent yet comforting about it. then, to top it all off, you used one of my favorite flavor combos: cinnamon, chocolate, dulce de leche! i cannot wait to try this. i’m a sucker for this combo, and your treat sounds divine! i actually just used this flavor combo in a cake that i’ll be posting about later today!
February 8, 2009 at 7:36 am
A great twist to bread pudding! Love the chocolate.
February 8, 2009 at 2:51 am
this is so comforting. I agree with you sometimes I ust want to relax on the sofa with something warm and yummy to eat. this looks delicious :)
February 8, 2009 at 2:18 am
That bread pudding must be incredibly good and soothing!
Cheers,
Rosa
February 8, 2009 at 2:08 am
OMG
that would be perfect for a sunday morning Vera :) next week ?