Chocolate Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 1 pound challah bread, torn into bite-size pieces*
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened and divided
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels, divided
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup bourbon, half-and-half, or brewed coffee
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Preparation

1. Place bread on 2 baking sheets, and bake at 325° for 12 minutes. Transfer bread to a large bowl, and set aside.
2. Butter a 13" x 9" baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
3. Bring half-and-half and remaining 2 tablespoons butter to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add 1 cup chocolate morsels, stirring until melted. Whisk in cocoa and next 4 ingredients. Pour over bread, tossing to coat; transfer to baking dish. Cover and chill 8 hours.
4. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate morsels and pecans. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until set. Let stand 10 minutes.
5. *You can use French bread as a substitute for challah.
6. Note: You can also bake bread pudding in 8 (8-ounce) ramekins or 12 (6-ounce) ramekins or custard cups. Prepare as directed above, and after chilling 8 hours, spoon pudding evenly into ramekins. Sprinkle with morsels and pecans. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35 minutes (for 6 ounce) to 40 minutes (for 8 ounce).