Tuesday, April 21, 2009

TWD - Four Star Chocolate Bread Pudding


This week’s TWD recipe was chosen by Lauren of Upper East Side Chronicle and is Four Star Chocolate Bread Pudding. Once upon a time I thought that bread pudding sounded the most revolting thing ever, but after making a chocolate and banana bread and butter pudding about 8 years ago, I was converted. It’s not something I make often though so it was nice to get another opportunity.

This bread pudding is not bread and butter pudding – it’s just bread pudding and I actually found that the lack of butter also meant lack in richness. The bread pudding was really easy to make - cube your stale bread, make a custard with sugar, milk, cream, eggs and chocolate, pour over and bake. I adjusted the recipe a bit, quartering it to make two small ramekins (one each for me and my husband) and I used all milk (low fat at that), no cream. I had to go and buy some bread to make the pudding as I didn’t have any leftover bits in the freezer, and I went with ciabatta – but I think that this particular recipe really does need a richer bread like brioche.

While this pudding was ok, I didn’t like it nearly as much as bread and butter pudding where you spread your bread with butter before soaking it in the custard. I think it is a good example of results speaking for the ingredients – if I had used the cream, full fat milk and brioche I think I would have got a richer, more delicious dessert.

See how the other TWDers did here.

17 comments:

Amanda said...

Well it looks scrumptious! And banana bread and butter pudding?? Wow, that sounds amazing!

I am more of a vanilla custard bread pudding gal, but I really liked this, and drizzled with chocolate sauce or cram anglaise it was amazing!

Anonymous said...

Your bread pudding looks great. I thought the taste was alright, but I didn't/don't like the texture of bread pudding.

Cakelaw said...

LOL - yours was healthier!

Engineer Baker said...

Haha - sometimes healthier isn't worth it, right? I really liked this, but I think it was because I used cream, etc.

Anonymous said...

I used French bread and I agree that it would have tasted better with brioche. I've never tried bread and butter pudding, but that sounds great!

Jules Someone said...

I didn't make this one, but I can see how richer ingredients would make a more satisfying end product.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Love the way your pudding looks, but I agree that it's hard to beat bread and butter pudding. I cut the fat a bit but not all the way this time - I made a 1/4 recipe too.
Nancy

What's for Supper? said...

I really liked it and since I have never really had bread pudding on a regular basis I didn't miss the butter. I also used 2% milk. It was great!

Michelle said...

Bread pudding is really good if make with stale danish! It's so versatile though you can make it with just about anything on hand.

Great job!

Megan said...

Wow - my mom used to make bread and butter pudding all the time when I was growing up.

I still loved this dessert, though.

chocolatechic said...

It looks great.

Elyse said...

Oh man, bread and butter pudding sounds like a sinfully delicious treat; I'm sorry that this plain ole bread pudding couldn't compare. I bet the ciabatta added an interesting texture and bite to the pudding, though. It certainly looks super chocolatey and yummy!

Leslie said...

Well, it LOOKS perfect! I can't even get my head around how good it would be to spread the bread with butter before making the pudding.

steph- whisk/spoon said...

you know, i have never tried bread and butter pudding. sounds like it would be great, though. hope your kitchen work is coming along!

Linda said...

Now, that looks like the perfect individual bread pudding. Great job Tammy!

I had to purposely forget how much fat is in this dessert to truly enjoy it. :)

TeaLady said...

Wasn't one of my favorites either, but did try it. And I think the B and B would be a great improvement on the richness. Yours looks tasty.

Mermaid Sews said...

I love the individual little puddings, what a great idea.