Description
White chocolate bread pudding emerges as a luxurious Southern dessert blending rich custard with tender bread cubes. Creamy vanilla sauce and delicate white chocolate create an irresistible sweet finale you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 large croissants (about 18 oz/510 g), cut into thirds
- 4 cups (960 ml/32 fl oz) half-and-half
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ⅓ cups (226 g) white chocolate chips
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh berries (raspberries and blueberries), divided
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) sliced almonds
- 2 tsp fresh orange zest
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C) and lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Chocolate Infusion: Melt white chocolate chips by pouring steaming half-and-half over them, allowing two minutes of resting before whisking into a silky smooth mixture.
- Flavor Blending: Whisk eggs, sugar, orange zest, and salt together, gradually incorporating the warm chocolate mixture while continuously stirring. Fold in vanilla extract to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Layering: Distribute croissant pieces across the prepared baking dish, scatter half the mixed berries, then pour the chocolate-egg custard evenly, ensuring complete bread coverage. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top for textural contrast.
- Baking Process: Let the pudding rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow bread absorption. Bake covered with foil for 40-45 minutes until edges set but center remains slightly wobbly. Remove foil and continue baking 15-20 minutes until golden-brown and slightly puffy.
- Finishing Touch: Allow pudding to rest 5 minutes after removing from oven. Garnish with remaining berries and dust generously with powdered sugar. Serve warm alongside sweetened whipped cream for a decadent dessert experience.
Notes
- Prevent Bread Sogginess: Let croissants sit out for a few hours or overnight to slightly dry out, ensuring a better texture and absorption of the custard mixture.
- Achieve Smooth Chocolate Base: Stir chocolate and half-and-half gently and consistently to prevent seizing and create a silky, uniform consistency.
- Control Baking Precision: Check pudding at 40-minute mark; slight wobble in center indicates perfect custard set without overcooking.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Zest orange directly into sugar to release essential oils, intensifying citrus notes throughout the dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg