Croissant Bread Pudding With Chocolate Sauce

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 6 cups lightly packed bite-size pieces croissants
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 spread the croissants in a large baking pan. dry, uncovered, at room temperature for 12 hours or heat in the oven at 250 degrees for 1 hour.
• 2 butter a shallow v/2-quart baking dish. arrange half the croissants in a single layer in the baking dish. sprinkle half the chocolate evenly over the croissants. top with the remaining croissants.
• 3 whisk the eggs, sugar, milk, 1/2 cup of the cream, vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl; pour over the croissants. cut the butter into pieces; dot over the croissant mixture. chill, covered, for 1 to 24 hours.
• 4 preheat the oven to 350 degrees. bake the pudding on the middle rack for 40 minutes or until slightly puffed and golden. melt the remaining chocolate in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water. whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup cream and a pinch of salt. cook until well mixed, whisking constantly. keep warm, covered.
• 5 serve the pudding warm or at room temperature with the sauce.
• 6 yield.- 8 servings.