White Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe

This is our traditional Christmas dessert. It is incredibly rich and indulgent so it's a good thing we only eat it once a year.

1 pound loaf of French bread (I think cheap store bread is best) cut into 1 inch cubes.
Toast these at 275 Fahrenheit for about ten minutes until they are lightly browned. Then turn the oven up to 350 Fahrenheit. Put the bread cubes in a 13 x 9 greased baking dish.

10 ounces white chocolate
7 egg whites
2 whole eggs
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
Dark rum,  kahlua, vanilla extract.
In a large glass bowl, melt together in a microwave set at pretty low (white chocolate burns easily), 10 ounces of white chocolate, 3 cups heavy cream, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon dark rum, 1 tablespoon kahlua or similar liqueur, 1 teaspoon vanilla. At my house this is about 5 minutes on power level 6 but microwaves differ. Just be cautious with the white chocolate.

While that is melting separate 7 large eggs, saving the whites for another use. When the chocolate/cream mixture is completely melted, whisk the egg whites and two whole eggs into the mixture. Pour about half of the mixture over the bread cubes and let sit for ten minutes. Then pour the rest of the liquid over the bread cubes, pressing the cubes down so that everything is covered and soaked. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake another fifteen minutes.

Serve warm with the following sauce.
8 ounces white chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
Dark rum, kahlua, vanilla extract.
Melt the white chocolate with the heavy cream and 1 tablespoon  of rum, kahlua, vanilla. Stir vigorously to combine into a smooth sauce.

The funniest story about this dessert is that my chef son did a private chef gig for a famous rock star's manager a couple of years ago. He cooked for this fellow and his extended family for a week, knocking himself out with fabulous breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I helped by making several of the desserts he served including this one. The only recipe the guy wanted after the week was over was this one. He even ate it for breakfast the day after it was served.