Description

This Decadent Chocolate & Cream Cheese Bread Pudding combines rich dark chocolate, creamy cream cheese, and soft sweet bread like brioche or challah to create an indulgently gooey dessert. The custard-soaked bread bakes to a golden brown finish with a luscious, melting center that is perfect for warm servings, making it an irresistible treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread

1 loaf sweet bread (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 and Others

8 ounces cream cheese, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chunks or chips, divided
Unsalted butter, for greasing the baking dish

Instructions

Prepare the bread: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter. Scatter the torn bread pieces evenly in the prepared dish.
Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined and smooth.
Soak the bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread pieces to ensure they are fully submerged and absorb the liquid. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or better yet, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to achieve a moist, gooey center.
Add the fillings: After soaking, gently stir in the cream cheese cubes and 1 cup of the dark chocolate chunks, distributing them evenly throughout the bread mixture.
Bake: Preheat your 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 45-55 minutes, or 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; the pudding will continue to set as it cools.
Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the creamy center to settle perfectly. Serve warm for best texture and flavor.

Notes

For the best gooey center, ensure an adequate soaking time ranging from 30 minutes up to overnight.
Do not overbake; the pudding should be slightly jiggly in the center when done, as it will firm up while cooling.
Using chilled cream cheese helps maintain its shape and texture within the pudding.
Brioche or challah are preferred breads due to their sweetness and soft texture, but other sweet breads can also be used.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate bread pudding, cream cheese dessert, baked pudding, gooey dessert, brioche pudding, challah bread pudding