Double Chocolate and Spice Bread Pudding

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 loaf (1 pound) French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups)
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate

Preparation Time:

20 minutes

Cooking Time:

45-50 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 (Easy)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
4. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, milk, and heavy cream. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until the bread has absorbed most of the liquid.
5. Stir the bread mixture into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 350
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sodium: 220mg
• Carbohydrates: 50g
• Sugar: 30g
• Protein: 5g

Dish Characteristics:

• Rich and chocolatey
• Warm and comforting
• Perfect for a special occasion

User Comments:

• "This bread pudding is absolutely amazing! It's so rich and chocolatey, and the spices add a wonderful depth of flavor."
• "I made this for a dinner party and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved the combination of chocolate and spices."
• "This is the best bread pudding I've ever had. It's so easy to make and always turns out perfect."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• If you don't have time to let the bread soak in the milk, you can bake it immediately. However, the bread will be less moist.
• If you don't have heavy cream, you can use all milk instead.
• You can add any other spices or flavors that you like, such as ginger, cloves, or cardamom.
• Serve the bread pudding warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.