Chocolate Cranberry Bread Pudding

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 1 lb whole wheat bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (or torn apart)
• 2 cups dried cranberries
• 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped (optional)
• 1 -2 tablespoon orange zest, minced (optional)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup vanilla baking chips
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 for the bread pudding: preheat oven to 350 degrees f, then coat the inside of a 13"x9" glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• 2 in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, cocoa & half-and-half until well blended.
• 3 add the bread pieces & stir gently with a large spoon to coat bread with the liquid. let this bread mixture set for 10 minutes.
• 4 add cranberries (along with the dark chocolate & orange zest, if using) & stir once again before pouring the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish, making sure that the cranberries are well-distributed.
• 5 bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• 6 for the sauce: in a 1-quart saucepan, stir together the granulated sugar, butter, baking chips & whipping cream, then cook over medium heat for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened & smooth.
• 7 remove from heat & stir in the vanilla. sauce will be thin.
• 8 serve sauce over warm bread pudding.