Chocolate Bread Pudding

Hi everybody! I know I was supposed to blog this surprise recipe last weekend, but this one took me a little longer than I expected (I had to go purchase missing ingredients and I started later than expected). But as they say, it's better late than never so here is my first non-cupcake recipe. This is my first time ever making bread pudding and my second time ever eating it. I found this recipe on Pinterest (thanks inspiredbycharm.com for pinning this Better Homes and Gardens recipe) and thought it would be interesting to try. It came out pretty good. Try it and let me know what you think.

Take care!

Chocolate Bread Pudding

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 cups milk
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
• 3/4 cup presweetened cocoa powder
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 5 cups cubed Hawaiian sweet bread or cinnamon-swirl bread (no raisins) (1/2-inch cubes), dried* 
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Presweetened cocoa powder (optional)

1. Lightly coat the inside of a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until very warm but not boiling. Remove from heat. Add chocolate pieces and the 3/4 cup cocoa powder (do not stir); let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth; cool slightly (about 10 minutes).
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and chocolate mixture. Gently stir in bread cubes. Transfer bread mixture to the prepared cooker.
4. Cover and cook on low-heat setting (do not use high-heat setting) for about 2 1/2 hours or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean (mixture will puff).
5. Remove liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker. Let pudding stand, uncovered, for 30 minutes to cool slightly before serving (pudding will fall as it cools).
6. To serve, spoon warm pudding into dessert dishes. If desired, top each serving with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional presweetened cocoa powder.

Notes:

• *To dry bread cubes: Spread fresh bread cubes in a single layer in a 15 1/2x10 1/2x1-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 300 degrees F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until cubes are dry, stirring twice. Cool. (Cubes will continue to dry and crisp as they cool.)
• I used dark chocolate pieces instead of semisweet chocolate. (I am a fan of the dark chocolate.)