Chocolate Pecan Brioche Bread Pudding
On a chilly November evening, the only thing on my mind is a bit of fall comfort. To distract myself from the first of many long nights, a few remaining slices of last week’s brioche quickly became chocolate pecan brioche bread pudding!
Topped with chocolate chips, pecans, and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce (because everything is better with caramel!), this is one indulgent dessert.
In lieu of making your own brioche, look for one (or a loaf of challah) at a good bakery. The caramel sauce can be made up to a week ahead, though it’s nearly impossible for me to keep a spoon out of it for that long!
Chocolate Perfected
How to Bake the MOST Decadent Chocolate Desserts
Chocolate Pecan Brioche Bread Pudding
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Chocolate pecan brioche bread pudding topped with chocolate chips, pecans, and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce for the most indulgent dessert!
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce
- 6 Tbsp light brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
Bread Pudding
- 5 slices Brioche, cubed (about 5 cups or 10 ounces)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 cup low-fat evaporated milk
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp brandy
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Topping
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup pecans, halved
Instructions
- For the caramel sauce, combine brown sugar, butter, and cream in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until butter has melted completely. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and sea salt until smooth. Pour sauce into a small jar to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and place cubed brioche in a single layer on a baking sheet; toast for 10 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Whisk together milk, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, brandy, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add toasted bread cubes; toss gently to coat with mixture. Let stand for 20 minutes, tossing cubes occasionally.
- Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Spoon half of bread mixture into pan; drizzle with 3 tablespoons caramel sauce. Spoon remaining bread mixture into pan and top with chocolate chips and pecans.
- Bake bread pudding for 40 to 45 minutes, until pulling away from edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan on a wire rack for 1 hour before slicing and serving with additional caramel sauce.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and warm before serving. Store leftover caramel sauce in the refrigerator up to 1 week; warm briefly before serving.
Keywords: Caramel, Pecan, Chocolate, Brioche, Bread Pudding
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Oh my! My heart just stopped.
You incorporated all the elements I would have liked to add to my own bread pudding. I’ve still yet to try it so I’ll be consulting your recipe when I do. This looks amazing!!
i LOVE every single thing about this
bread pudding with brioche sounds REALLY good right now! i wish i had some for breakfast. i’m starving looking at the gorgeous pics 🙂
Totally irresistible! A decadent treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
How fabulous this looks Laura! 😮 Indulgent and hard to stop at one slice I’m guessing 😉
I think I just drooled. Gosh, brioche alone looked really delicious and now you made bread pudding with it! Love the chocolate/pecan topping too. Irresistible!
This is absolutely divine! What a lovely dessert!
This is beautiful! All those pecans and chocolate chips–I’m sort of dying over here. Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts ever. I find it so comforting.
Bread pudding, I’m sure this was delicious with fresh homemade brioche, then chocolate, caramel and pecans… I’m swooning!
This bread pudding looks divine! I love pecans. and chocolate. and caramel. and bread! Perfection!
With that caramel sauce, how could I resist?!
What a perfect dessert to chase away the chill of these early winter nights. I love bread pudding…so comforting and so simple. And you get to use what you already have on hand! Thank you for sharing. This looks too good!
Oh Laura! This is a dessert right after my heart and tummy. DELICIOUS!!!