Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding

This Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding recipe is packed with rich chocolate flavor and creamy texture and so easy to make. It is a budget friendly dessert recipe that you can make for cozy weekends and holiday gatherings and meanwhile every bite feels soft and warm. If you love creamy desserts and chocolate filled treats and then you are going to love this Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding recipe.

It’s rich and comforting and incredibly satisfying and meanwhile the creamy pockets of sweetened cream cheese melt right into the soft bread layers. If you enjoy warm baked desserts and then you should also try our Banana Pudding Brownies for another cozy homemade dessert idea. If you’re looking for more sweet comfort food recipes like this Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding and then why not also try Easy Berry Crumble Bars for Memorial Day Parties or Patriotic Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Drizzle.

Both of these dessert recipes are easy to prepare and perfect for parties and family weekends and special celebrations.

Ingredients

Here is what I use for this recipe and you can adjust nuts or spices based on preference:

• French bread: Soft bread cubes absorb the chocolate custard mixture while keeping a tender center after baking.
• Cream cheese: Cream cheese creates creamy cheesecake style pockets throughout the pudding.
• Semi sweet chocolate chips: Chocolate chips melt into the custard and create rich chocolate flavor throughout the dish.
• Whole milk: Whole milk softens the bread cubes and creates a creamy custard texture.
• Heavy cream: Heavy cream adds richness and smooth body to the baked pudding.
• Granulated sugar: Sugar sweetens the custard while balancing the cocoa richness.
• Eggs: Eggs bind the custard and help the bread pudding set while baking.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder deepens the chocolate flavor and darkens the custard.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds warm bakery flavor to the chocolate custard.
• Salt: Salt balances sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.

Tools You’ll Need

• Ceramic baking dish: Holds the bread pudding mixture while baking evenly.
• Mixing bowl: Used for whisking the chocolate custard mixture.
• Whisk: Combines the custard ingredients into a smooth mixture.
• Knife: Cuts the bread into uneven cubes for rustic texture.

Instructions

Step 1: Cube the bread and scatter cream cheese

Cut the French bread into uneven cubes and spread them loosely into the baking dish and meanwhile tuck irregular cream cheese chunks between the bread pieces. The bread layers should look casual and slightly crowded with natural spacing and overlap. The cream cheese pieces should sit unevenly between the bread cubes instead of looking perfectly placed and meanwhile the mixture should already look homemade and rustic.

Tip: Use slightly stale bread because it absorbs the custard better while keeping soft texture after baking.

Step 2: Whisk the chocolate custard

Whisk the eggs and milk and heavy cream and cocoa powder and sugar and vanilla together until the mixture becomes glossy and dark chocolate brown. The custard should look smooth with tiny bubbles floating across the surface. Pour the chocolate custard over the bread cubes and meanwhile some bread pieces should remain partially exposed while others begin soaking up the liquid unevenly.

Tip: Pour the custard slowly so the bread absorbs the liquid evenly without collapsing immediately.

Step 3: Scatter chocolate chips across the soaked bread

Sprinkle chocolate chips unevenly across the soaked bread surface and meanwhile some chips should sink into the custard while others stay visible on top. The bread cubes should now look darker and softer as the liquid settles into the center. The cream cheese pieces should peek through the chocolate soaked bread and meanwhile the top should appear uneven and naturally rustic.

Tip: Reserve a small handful of chocolate chips for the top so the baked pudding has melted chocolate pockets.

Step 4: Bake until puffed and slightly crisp

Bake the bread pudding until the top becomes puffed and slightly crisp around the edges and meanwhile the chocolate chips melt into glossy pools. The custard should set while still looking soft and creamy in the center. The top should show uneven golden brown patches and melted chocolate streaks with natural cracks and irregular texture throughout the baking dish.

Tip: Do not overbake because the center should stay soft and creamy instead of dry and firm.

Step 5: Serve a warm portion with melted chocolate

Scoop a warm portion onto a white plate and meanwhile the inside should reveal soft soaked bread layers and melted chocolate pockets and creamy cream cheese swirls. The serving should look rustic with uneven edges and glossy melted chocolate. The plated portion should appear warm and homemade with soft texture and rich chocolate contrast between the darker custard and pale cream cheese filling.

Tip: Serve warm for the best creamy texture and rich melted chocolate flavor.

Pro Tips

• Let the bread sit in the custard for several minutes so the center becomes creamy while the edges stay lightly crisp.
• Use full fat cream cheese because it melts into richer creamy pockets throughout the baked pudding texture.
• Scatter the chocolate chips unevenly so every scoop gets different layers of melted chocolate richness.
• Serve the bread pudding slightly warm because the chocolate stays glossy and the custard texture feels softer.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator and meanwhile keep the pudding covered tightly to maintain moisture. Reheat individual portions gently so the cream cheese filling softens again and meanwhile the chocolate becomes glossy and rich. If the pudding feels slightly firm after chilling and then add a small splash of milk before reheating for softer texture. Freeze cooled portions wrapped tightly and meanwhile thaw overnight in the refrigerator before warming again. The flavor becomes even richer the next day because the chocolate custard continues soaking into the bread layers.

Frequently Asked Questions

See You in the Kitchen

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you and including this delicious Chocolate Cream Cheese Bread Pudding recipe.

I hope you try it and enjoy it and rate it and share it with your friends and family and meanwhile don’t forget to also try Banana Pudding Brownies and Patriotic Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Drizzle for even more sweet dessert ideas.

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