Semisweet Chocolate Bread Pudding

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• nonstick cooking spray
• 3 cups milk
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate piece
• 3/4 cup pre- sweetened cocoa powder
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 1/2 cups dry hawaiian sweet bread (see note, below) or 3 1/2 cups cubed cinnamon-swirl bread, no raisins, about 6-1/2 ounces bread (see note, below)
• 1 cup whipped cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 lightly coat the inside of a 3-1/2 or 4-quart crockpot with cooking spray; set aside.
• 2 in a medium saucepan bring milk to simmering; remove from heat. add chocolate pieces and cocoa powder; do not stir. let stand for 5 minutes. whisk until smooth; cool slightly (about 10 minutes).
• 3 in a large bowl whisk together the eggs and chocolate mixture. gently stir in bread cubes. spoon bread mixture into prepared crockpot.
• 4 cover and cook on lo heat only about 2-1/2 hours or until puffed and a knife inserted near center comes out clean. turn off cooker, or, if possible, remove liner from cooker. let stand, uncovered, for 30 minutes before serving. pudding will fall during cooling.
• 5 to serve: spoon warm pudding into dessert dishes. if desired, top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream.
• 6 note: to make dry bread cubes, cut 4-5 slices fresh bread into 1/2-inch cubes (should have about 5 cups of cubes. spread cubes in a single layer in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. bake, uncovered, in a 300 degree f. oven for 10-15 minutes or until dry, stirring twice; cool.