Recipe Summary

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Servings: 12

You can enjoy this bread pudding served warm, but it is equally delicious at room temperature. Save leftover chocolate sauce, and serve over your favorite ice cream or fresh berries.

Ingredients

1 (15-oz) can Bing cherries
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
12 cups French bread cubes
3 1/2 cups (2 10-oz packages) NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER 53% Dark Chocolate Chunks, divided
1/4 cup butter

Directions

1. Drain cherries, reserving cherry juice. Coarsely chop cherries.
2. Stir together eggs, next 4 ingredients, and 1 Tbsp reserved cherry juice in a large bowl, stirring well. Add bread cubes, and let stand 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in chopped cherries and 1 package chocolate chunks.
3. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13" x 9" baking dish.
4. Bake, covered, at 350° for 45 minutes; uncover and bake 20 more minutes or until set.
5. Combine remaining package chocolate chunks, 1/4 cup butter, and 1/2 cup reserved cherry juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute; stir until smooth and chocolate is melted. Serve with bread pudding.

Additional Information

Bread pudding is a terrific way to use up stale or day-old bread. Just allow the bread cubes to soak in the milk mixture a few extra minutes. Individual servings can be re-warmed quickly in the microwave for a treat later.