Decadent Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding Recipe

This chocolate chip bread pudding is classic comfort food — warm, gooey, and studded with melty chocolate. It’s simple to prepare: mix bread cubes with a rich custard of milk, eggs, sugars and vanilla, fold in chocolate chips, and bake until set. In under an hour you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s easy to customize.

Bread pudding made with chocolate chips is a comforting, budget-friendly dessert that turns simple pantry staples into something special. It works well as an make-ahead treat and adapts easily to different breads and flavorings, so you can tweak it to suit your family’s tastes.

Try adding a touch of cinnamon or extra vanilla, swapping the chocolate for dried fruit, or using a richer bread like challah or brioche for an even more decadent result.

We love baking homemade loaves and saving leftover bread for desserts like this one — it’s a delicious way to reduce waste and showcase different breads from crusty artisan loaves to soft egg-enriched breads.

Ingredients

Bread – Egg-enriched breads work best: challah, brioche, or any soft white bread. Cubed and slightly stale bread soaks up the custard without turning mushy.

Whole milk – Use whole milk for a rich, custardy texture. It helps create a moist pudding with depth of flavor.

White and brown sugar – A blend of white and brown sugar balances sweetness and adds a subtle caramel note from the brown sugar.

Eggs – Eggs bind the custard and provide structure, richness and color.

Vanilla extract – Vanilla brightens and rounds out the flavors.

Salted butter – Small pats on top add flavor and encourage a slightly golden, glossy surface. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the custard.

Semisweet chocolate chips – Semisweet chips provide melty pockets of chocolate that balance the pudding’s sweetness.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

Step One: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish. Combine milk, eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt. Blend or whisk until smooth.

Step Two: Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl. Pour the custard over the bread, making sure the bread is evenly coated.

Step Three: Gently fold the bread and custard until all cubes are moistened. Let the mixture sit a few minutes so the bread soaks up the custard.

Step Four: Fold in about two-thirds of the chocolate chips, being careful not to break the bread cubes.

Step Five: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Scatter the remaining chocolate chips on top and dot with small pieces of butter.

Step Six: Bake 40–45 minutes, or until the custard is set but still slightly wobbly in the center and the edges are golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Variations

Nuts – Fold in chopped pecans, walnuts or macadamia nuts for crunch.

Chocolate – Use white, milk, or dark chocolate chips, or larger chocolate chunks. Finish with a drizzle of melted chocolate if desired.

Dairy-free – Substitute almond, coconut or oat milk and omit the butter pats.

Sugar-free – Use a sugar substitute and sugar-free chocolate chips if needed.

Spices – Add cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice to the custard for warm flavor.

Extracts – Try almond or maple extract in place of or alongside vanilla for a different note.

Fruit – Replace or combine chocolate with dried fruit (raisins, cranberries) or fresh fruit like blueberries or chopped apples.

Common Questions

What to serve with chocolate chip bread pudding?

Whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream are classic accompaniments. You can also serve slices with raspberry or caramel sauce on the plate or drizzled over the top.

How do I store bread pudding?

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm them in a low oven until heated through.

Can I freeze bread pudding?

Yes. Freeze individual portions wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat gently.

Recipe

Want more dessert ideas?

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