Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

This Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding transforms stale bread and a few simple ingredients into something incredibly delicious. It's a humble dessert that is absolutely awesome.

Transmutation is the act of transforming something into something else. It's a term used in alchemy, but today it refers to so much more than transforming any metal into gold. We use it to describe any remarkable transformation, whether physical or mental.

We do a lot of transmutation in kitchen witchcraft, but my favorite is when we turn something old and sad into something new and delicious. Bread pudding is a perfect example. We're taking stale bread that no one really wants to eat, and turning it into something irresistible. With a simple combination of eggs, dairy, sugar, and some basic flavorings, we enter a whole new realm of awesomeness.

What makes Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding so awesome?

This Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding is a great base recipe to work from. It keeps things really simple but totally delicious. No bells and whistles, just delicious dark chocolate chips or chunks scattered amongst sweet, custardy bread. I love the way that it stays a bit squidgy and moist on the bottom with delightfully crunchy bits on the top. It's just the right level of sweetness, as well.

There's really no wrong time to make bread pudding, except for maybe when it's too hot to turn on the oven. You can whip this up anytime you have leftover bread. And if you don't have enough to make a full bread pudding, simply stash your bread in the freezer until you have enough leftovers to make this recipe. You'll love it every time.

Magical Properties of Bread

Bread is an end product that is made up of its own ingredients, but it's such a significant staple that it has its own magical properties. Bread was likely a common offering for many deities, but it's definitely sacred to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Our ancient ancestors would likely have created loaves in different shapes for different gods and goddesses.

Bread carries feminine or receptive energy and is ruled by the element of earth. It's excellent in spells for grounding and often used in rituals to symbolize the joining of a community.

To learn more about the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this dessert. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Bread - Stale bread, (not necessarily rock hard though) is best. Everyday sliced bread won't hold up, but any other loaf will do. I've made this with brioche, sourdough, and even baguettes.
• Chocolate - Chips, chunks, or even chopped chocolate would work. Use what you've got. I prefer a semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
• Eggs
• Brown sugar - Light or dark will both work fine.
• Kahlua - Or other liqueur or spirit that you like the taste of. Bailey's, rum, or bourbon would all work here.
• Cream - You want double or heavy cream
• Milk - Whole milk is best, but this is all about using up leftovers, so work with what you've got

Tips for making Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding is incredibly easy to make. Chunks of stale bread get soaked in a mixture of eggs, brown sugar, Kahlua, cream, and milk. Scatter some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate over everything. Then just bake it until it's puffy but still a tiny bit squishy on the inside. I like to serve this with some freshly whipped cream or good vanilla ice cream.

And this recipe is so flexible. Add nuts or coconut if you like. Use a mixture of different types or flavors of chocolate. Throw in some berries. Just check your cupboards or the fridge and see what you've got hanging around. This is the perfect vehicle for using up leftovers.

I hope you get to experience the magical alchemy of Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding soon. It's definitely awesome.

Looking for more awesome bread pudding recipes? Try this Caramel Croissant Bread Pudding or some Chocolate Kahlua Bread Pudding.

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Recipe adapted from Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home by Nigella Lawson.