Author Notes
I grew up in New Orleans, and my brother was once the manager of Commander's Palace Restaurant (when Emeril Lagasse was chef, but that's another story). They made a dessert called bread pudding souffle with whiskey sauce that was, to me, the perfect bread pudding--satisfying as comfort food, but elegant, rich and beautiful. I wanted to use a different flavor profile, so I thought it would be interesting to use the flavors in tiramisu--rum, coffee and chocolate. New Orleans French bread is very light and fluffy with a thin crust. If you can get it, lucky you; if not Italian bread will work, but cut off the thickest parts of the crust. —drbabs
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Ingredients
- Bread Pudding
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1 cup
sugar, divided
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4
eggs, separated
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1 cup
whole milk
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1/2 cup
mascarpone cheese, room temperature
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3 tablespoons
dark rum
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1/2 teaspoon
cocoa powder
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1/2 cup
very hot water
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1/2 teaspoon
instant espresso powder
-
1
loaf day old light French or Italian bread, heavy crusts removed, cut into cubes (about 5 cups)
-
1 pinch
salt
- Cream Sauce
-
1 1/2 cups
heavy cream
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2 tablespoons
water
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1 teaspoon
instant espresso powder
-
1 teaspoon
cocoa powder
-
1/4 cup
dark rum
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1/3 cup
sugar
-
bittersweet chocolate, grated
Directions
- Bread Pudding
-
Butter a 9 X 12 baking dish and preheat oven to 350.
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Whisk together egg yolks, mascarpone, 1/2 cup sugar, and rum and cocoa powder. Dissolve espresso powder in hot water. Pour both over bread cubes and mix to combine well. Set aside.
-
In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat egg whites with pinch of salt. Add the other 1/2 cup sugar a little at a time, until meringue is shiny white and stiff peaks form. Gently fold meringue into bread mixture until thoroughly incorporated.
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Put egg-bread mixture into baking dish, smooth top, and bake for 25-30 minutes. The top will be light brown and crusty and the center will be moist but not runny.
- Cream Sauce
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Bring heavy cream to boil, add coffee and cocoa powders, and whisk till blended, cooking for about 30 seconds, while being careful not to burn cream.
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Add rum and sugar, whisk together, and set aside to cool slightly.
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To serve, pour some of the cream sauce in a dish and top with a square of bread pudding. Grate chocolate over the top.
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