Description
Chocolate bread pudding with bourbon butter sauce is a rich, gooey, and comforting dessert made from cubes of bread soaked in a chocolate custard, baked until tender, and drizzled with a silky bourbon-spiked butter sauce. Perfect for holidays, gatherings, or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
- 6 cups day-old bread (brioche, challah, or French bread), cubed
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 2 cups plant-based milk (almond, oat, or soy)
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk or vegan cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot
- 1/4 cup vegan butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for sauce)
- Pinch of salt (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup plant-based cream or coconut milk (optional, for sauce)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking dish.
- In a saucepan, warm plant-based milk, coconut milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and cornstarch, then add chocolate chips until melted. Let cool slightly.
- Place bread cubes in the baking dish. Pour chocolate mixture over bread, pressing down so bread absorbs custard. Let sit 10–15 minutes.
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15–20 minutes more, until top is set and lightly crisp.
- Meanwhile, make sauce: Melt vegan butter in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Add bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Simmer 2–3 minutes. Stir in plant-based cream if desired.
- Serve warm bread pudding with generous drizzles of bourbon butter sauce.
Notes
- Use day-old or slightly stale bread for best texture.
- Covering with foil during the first bake prevents dryness.
- For alcohol-free version, replace bourbon with vanilla and maple syrup.
- Can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving.
- Individual ramekins make elegant single-serve portions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
