Individual Croissant Bread Puddings With Dried Cherries Bittersweet Chocolate And Toasted Pecans Recipes

CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Set the custard mixture aside. Slice the croissants in half horizontally. In a 10 by 15 by 2 1/2-inch oval baking dish, distribute the bottoms of the sliced croissants, then add the raisins, then the tops of the croissants (brown side up), being sure the raisins are between the layers of croissants or they will burn while baking. Pour the custard over the croissants and allow to soak for 10 minutes, pressing down gently.
• Place the pan in a larger one filled with 1-inch of hot water. Cover the larger pan with aluminum foil, tenting the foil so it doesn't touch the pudding. Cut a few holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 40 to 45 more minutes or until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, beat 4 whole eggs, 1 egg yolk and 3/4 cup sugar with wire whisk until well blended. Beat in milk, whipping cream and vanilla until well blended. Stir in 7 cups of the croissants pieces. Let stand 20 minutes. Pour into baking dish. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Lightly press remaining 3 cups croissant pieces on top of mixture. Brush top of croissant pieces with butter; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle with dried cherries.
• Bake uncovered 55 to 65 minutes or until top is light golden brown (center will jiggle slightly). Cool 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch and water until blended. Stir in frozen cherries. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Serve sauce over warm bread pudding. Store bread pudding and sauce covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, sugar, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Add the croissant pieces and chocolate chunks and toss to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Press the mixture down into the pan. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to overnight to allow the liquid to be absorbed.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Make the bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Toss the croissants with the melted butter on a baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Arrange about half of the croissants in the prepared baking dish. Top with about two-thirds of the milk chocolate, then add the remaining croissants. Pour the egg mixture over the croissants, pressing gently so the croissants are submerged.
• Cover the baking dish with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, top with the remaining milk chocolate and bake until the bread pudding is puffed, golden brown and set, 15 to 20 more minutes. Let sit 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Bring the heavy cream, butter, sugar, corn syrup and vanilla to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk until smooth. Serve the bread pudding with the chocolate sauce.

CHOCOLATE-DRIED CHERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the dark chocolate chips in a large heatproof bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until well combined.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the cream, milk, brandy, orange zest, vanilla seeds, salt, and granulated sugar to a boil; stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot liquid over the dark chocolate chips and whisk until melted and smooth. While whisking constantly, pour the dark chocolate mixture into the eggs, mixing until combined. Add the bread and toss gently to coat. Transfer the bread mixture to the refrigerator and cool to room temperature. Stir in the chocolate chips and dried cherries. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Put eight 4-ounce ramekins on a baking sheet and lightly coat them with cooking spray.
• Stir the bread pudding mixture to evenly distribute the chocolate chips and cherries. Divide the mixture among the prepared ramekins. Sprinkle a little Turbinado sugar over the top of each pudding and bake until puffed and set, about 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Cut the croissants into 1-inch cubes. You should have about 3 1/2 cups. Place the cubes in an ovenproof baking dish.
• In a saucepan, heat the half-and-half, cream, and salt over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Whisking constantly, gradually add the hot chocolate-cream mixture. Strain the mixture over the croissant pieces and toss lightly. Let sit while the mixture is absorbed, at least 15 minutes. As it soaks, fold the mixture a few times to ensure even soaking.
• When ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a roasting pan that's 2 inches deep and larger than the baking dish with paper towels. Fill the pan with very hot water and place the dish of bread pudding inside. Bake until set, about 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on each serving.

CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Place pecans on a baking sheet.
• Toast pecans in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place torn croissants into the prepared baking pan. Pour milk over bread and let soak for 10 minutes.
• Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a medium bowl using an electric mixer. Pour over bread mixture, blending well, using your hands if needed. Add toasted pecans, chocolate chips, and toffee bits. Mix well.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the center is cooked through and top is golden brown, about 1 hour.
• While bread pudding is baking, bring sugar, half-and-half, and butter to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and let custard simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove custard from heat and let cool slightly. Pour in vanilla extract and stir well.
• Remove bread pudding from oven and serve warm with custard sauce.