Tuesdays with Dorie: Four-Star Chocolate Bread Pudding
April 21, 2009 at 2:03 am | Posted in groups, pudding/mousse, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 46 Comments
I’m just back from seriously stuffing myself all over London (I’ll try and tell you more later…you will be either impressed or disgusted by what I was able to pack away in only five short days!), but I still say, “more chocolate, please!” My pal Lauren from A Baking Blog (aka Upper East Side Chronicle) has thankfully obliged by choosing Four-Star Chocolate Bread Pudding for TWD this week.
All the restaurants I’ve worked for have had some version of bread pudding on the menu at some point in time, so it should be old hat. Really, though, I’ve had limited success with making bread pudding at home. It’s my own fault…I usually cut corners with the cream and yolks in an effort to make it a little less fattening, but the end result is a tough, dry let-down. This go-around, I stuck to the recipe…my compromise here was to make just a third. Only a few portions, but each one would have the full effect.
Dorie recommends brioche or challah as the base for this bread pudding. Both yummy, but I happen to have a stash old croissants in the freezer (leftovers from work), so I just used a couple of those. Talk about cutting out that fat– ha! That picture up top may not look too appetizing (it’s just so darn brown), but let me assure you that this is good, squidgy stuff…even with the dried cherries, which I wouldn’t normally go for in a chocolate dessert.
For the recipe, see Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (it is also here on Leite’s), or read Lauren’s post. Don’t forget to check out the TWD Blogroll!
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a whisk and a spoon 
Bread and butter pudding is my favorite and I can only imagine how delicious that chocolate version must have been!!!
Comment by nina— April 21, 2009 #
je l’ai fait aux croissants aussi…et au chocolat blanc, car j’étais un peu écoeurée du chocolat noir…super réussi comme d’habitude 🙂
Comment by isabelle— April 21, 2009 #
I don’t know what you’re talking about, it looks absolutely delicious!
I’m so jealous that you were in London, glad you had a good time 🙂
I do miss good old pub grub 😉
Comment by Farah— April 21, 2009 #
Welcome back from London!!
Oooh, that definitely DOES look good – love the addition of dried cherries!!
Comment by VeggieGirl— April 21, 2009 #
I absolutely love bread pudding! There’s something so comforting about it. I want a big bowl of this now! =)
Comment by Tracy— April 21, 2009 #
great call with the croissants- i used t go to this place for brunch with a KILLER bread pudding made with stale croissants, danish, etc. I used dried cherries too, which I really liked. great job.
Comment by Lauren— April 21, 2009 #
I love bread pudding!!! 4 star chocolate? wow!!! yum!
Comment by Jen— April 21, 2009 #
Looks wonderful! I am a fan on vanilla custard bread pudding, but I really liked this one too. It was even better drizzled with chocolate sauce or cream anglaise!
Comment by Amanda— April 21, 2009 #
Looks great! I saw a couple other people used croissants, too. Yum!
Comment by Jodie— April 21, 2009 #
Looks great. Glad it worked out for you. I liked it and am glad I made my first ever bread pudding, but I’d sure pick a different chocolate dessert at a restaurant.
Comment by Katrina— April 21, 2009 #
Beautiful Steph! …and you’re right, I too should have done only half, or a third… cause it dissapeared so fast, hummm… there waas no tellling how much fat we took in, in that short amount of time!
Croissant must have made that pudding a lot lighter though (in the sense of weight and density, of course! LOL) …great choice, quick thinking! lol
Comment by vibi— April 21, 2009 #
Looks great, and I can’t wait to hear about London.
Comment by chocolatechic— April 21, 2009 #
Ah! That’s why my bread pudding has always been bad! You can’t make it low fat. I had a little extra cream in the carton and I poured it over the top. I couldn’t believe I was doing it. It was SO good.
Yours looks great!
Comment by Lindsey (Cafe Johnsonia)— April 21, 2009 #
Ah, yes, croissants. Can’t go wrong there!
Comment by Rebecca— April 21, 2009 #
Bread pudding doesn’t always look nice but it tastes incredible. I usually don’t cut corners on fat and calories here. Full fat tastes better so I just cut myself a smaller piece.
Comment by Eliana— April 21, 2009 #
Yeah, I think there are times when you can reduce the fat and other times, not so much. This is maybe one of those times where it’s full fat or nothing. 🙂
Looks great!
Comment by Chris— April 21, 2009 #
Mmmm…. that looks delicious! Mine was somewhat dry – maybe I overbaked it… yours looks nice and moist! I need to make more of them – maybe use something other than French (love your croissants)! Maybe that did the trick. Well done this week!
Comment by mike— April 21, 2009 #
Glad you had a good London trip. Your bread pudding looks wonderful!
Comment by Leanne— April 21, 2009 #
This was a tough one to photograph wasn’t it? This was my first time trying bread pudding and I really enjoyed it! Glad it was a hit with you too!
Comment by Tracey— April 21, 2009 #
Looks definitely deceive on this one…I thought this was quite delicious as well! Croissants?!?! — that sounds absolutely decadent!
Comment by Linda @ Tender Crumb— April 21, 2009 #
Mmm, I love that you used croissants. What a totally perfect wait to add a bit of richness to bread pudding. I reaaaaally want some chocolate bread pudding now. It’s one of my favorites!
Comment by Elyse— April 21, 2009 #
how incredibly chocolatey!! yummm.
Comment by veggievixen— April 21, 2009 #
You can’t judge a CBP by its complexion. I just had three spoonfuls of the stuff myself and I think its delicious. I used challah, no fruit bits and dark bittersweet choco. Yummo. Chilled is my preference. How about you? Great work.
AmyRuth
Comment by Amy Ruth— April 21, 2009 #
I think your bread pudding looks fantastic. I’m glad it was a success for you.
Comment by pinkstripes— April 21, 2009 #
I tried making mine low fat, but it just wasnt rich enough. Some things just have to be full fat!
Comment by Tammy— April 21, 2009 #
It is a challenge to photograph chocolate bread pudding, but it tastes great. Way to go all out with the croissants!
Comment by Amy— April 21, 2009 #
Can’t wait to see all you did in London! I’m jealous! Croissants + full fat cream and eggs seem to be the way to go with this dessert – it’s really wonderful!
Comment by Caitlin— April 21, 2009 #
Looks good to me! Nice job this week, just like every other week:)
Comment by Maria— April 21, 2009 #
Squidgy – now THAT’s the word I was looking for!
Comment by Audrey— April 21, 2009 #
I am glad you went all-in with the cream, yolks, and even raised it one with croissants! I wouldn’t have thought they would have enough structure to soak up the liquid – good to know.
Comment by Carol Peterman— April 21, 2009 #
croissants !!! WOOW !! I can imagine how yummy your pudding taste !!
Comment by Jin— April 21, 2009 #
great idea to use the croissants! 🙂 I bet those were great in this!
Comment by Karen— April 21, 2009 #
Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
This looks wonderful. Using croissants! That sounds so rich!
Comment by food librarian— April 21, 2009 #
I love your 4 little stars on the photo! This sure was good.
Comment by Mary Ann— April 21, 2009 #
Did you happen to go on the Chocolate Ecstasy Tour in London? I was there a few weeks ago and went on the shorter Mayfair one – see my post at http://romysramblings.blogspot.com/2009/03/london-town-temptation.html
And the bread pudding looks great!
Comment by Romy— April 22, 2009 #
LOL, yours looks about like mine. It’s hard to make this dish glamorous.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Glad you had a good trip!
Comment by Jacque Hutson— April 22, 2009 #
Wow, simple bread pudding made ready for its close-up. Thanks for the sweet mention. See you later 🙂
Comment by Lauren...a baking blog— April 22, 2009 #
Oh, Steph, that looks soooooo yummy!!!! I love bread pudding but just didn’t have time this week.
Looking forward to your posts about London. One of my favorite cities – ever!!!
Comment by teaandscones— April 22, 2009 #
Oh sweet god.
Comment by Dallas from Bitchin' Lifestyle— April 22, 2009 #
Croissants? *Swoon* It looks amazing! I bet it tasted great, too.
Comment by Leslie— April 22, 2009 #
Squidgy is the perfect word! It almost describes the sound of the bread pudding when you’re scooping it into the bowl! 😀
Comment by howtoeatacupcake— April 23, 2009 #
yum, croissanty chocolaty bread pudding!
Comment by Spike— April 23, 2009 #
I used brioche, but the croissant idea is awesome. Where do you work, I am sure you posted about this at some point, but have been a loyal reader for a while? Baking or food related I presume – jealous.
Comment by Mermaid Sweets— April 24, 2009 #
Mermaid– Thanks for reading! I work at a little bakery in Brooklyn.
Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— April 25, 2009 #
GORGEOUS bread pudding — I bet the croissants made it even more extra-delicious!
Comment by CookiePie— April 25, 2009 #
Chocolate bread pudding is one of my favorite comfort foods. It’s delicious.
Comment by Kathy— July 30, 2009 #