Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipes

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE LOAF

Steps:

• Prepare the loaf: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the butter, almonds, sugar, cocoa powder, egg yolks, cinnamon, flour and cayenne in a food processor and pulse to make a paste.
• On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Spread the cocoa mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on one of the long sides. Brush the clean border with water. Tightly roll the dough into an 18-inch log, rolling toward the clean border; pinch the seam to seal. Place seam-side down on the baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Slide the parchment off the baking sheet and cut the log in half lengthwise with a chef's knife. Slide back onto the baking sheet and pinch one end together with the cut sides facing in. Twist the two halves together, crossing one over the other a few times. Pinch the end together, then tuck both pinched ends under the loaf slightly. Cover the loaf loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until plump, 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover the loaf and bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until golden brown (a thermometer inserted into the middle should register 170 degrees F to 175 degrees F), 30 to 35 minutes.
• Make the topping: Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Brush the warm loaf with the melted butter and sprinkle with some of the cinnamon sugar. Let cool, then sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.
• Warm 1/2 cup water and the milk in a saucepan over low heat until a thermometer registers 100 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the yeast on top, then sprinkle with a pinch of the sugar; set aside, undisturbed, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture until combined. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and nutmeg. Make a well in the center, then add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it directly on the surface of the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

CHOCOLATE CHILE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter ramekin or 1 muffin cup.
• Cook butter (1 tablespoon), cream, chocolate, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne, and a pinch of salt in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in egg until combined. Fold in bread cubes and let stand 5 minutes.
• Fill ramekin with bread mixture and bake until puffed and set around edge but still moist in center, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING WITH KAHLUA CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 12 ramekins or a large gratin dish. Dust with granulated sugar.
• Bread Pudding: Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl with the 1/2 cup sugar. Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until steamy but not boiling. Turn off the heat and add the chocolates, salt, vanilla, nutmeg, and Kahlua. Stir to mix. While whisking, pour over the egg yolks/sugar mixture. Gently fold in the bread cubes. Transfer the pudding mixture to ramekins (filled just up to the top) and put on a baking sheet, or use a gratin pan. Bake until nicely browned and set, about 30 minutes (for ramekins) and 45 minutes for gratin pan.
• Kahlua Caramel Sauce: Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water and cream of tartar in a small saucepan. DO NOT STIR. Bring to a boil and cook until the caramel browns. When the caramel is medium brown, remove from heat and carefully add 1 cup of cream and simmer. Add Kahlua.
• To serve: Ladle a layer of sauce onto each plate and unmold the ramekin and put the pudding on top of the sauce; or if in a gratin pan, place a large spoonful of bread pudding on top. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE TEQUILA BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• To prepare bread pudding: Place sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar becomes a light golden color. Pour into a 9-inch square ceramic or glass baking dish and tilt the pan to evenly coat the bottom and sides with sugar. Set aside to cool. Line the pan with bread slices and drizzle butter evenly over the bread. Scatter pineapple and chocolate chips over top. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, tequila, Kahlua and vanilla extract. Pour mixture over the bread and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, or until the bread has fully absorbed the liquid.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Set baking dish in a large roasting pan, filling with enough water to reach one inch up the sides of the dish. Bake until pudding is firm, about 50 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Using a hand-held mixer, whip cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To prepare sauce: Place milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in baking soda and heat until almost boiling. Add one cup of sugar and stir until dissolved. Place remaining sugar in a skillet and melt slowly over low heat, stirring continuously until the sugar is amber colored. Slowly add caramelized sugar to milk mixture, stirring continuously with a whisk. In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in cold water, stirring until smooth. Gradually stir cornstarch mixture into milk mixture and cook over low heat at a slow boil until mixture thickens, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• To serve: When pudding has cooled 20 to 30 minutes and is still warm, cut into squares and place in shallow soup bowls. Spoon Cajeta sauce around squares and top with a dollop of whipped cream. Sift confectioners' sugar over each dessert.
• Servings: 6.

CAPIDOTADA (MEXICAN BREAD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
• Combine the water, cinnamon sticks, and sugar in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the cinnamon turns the water dark brown, about 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and reserve the water.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the slices of French bread in oil until light brown, turning if necessary, about 1 minute per side. Remove toasted bread from the oil and place on paper towels to drain.
• Arrange half of the toasted bread in a single layer in the greased casserole dish. Sprinkle bread with half of the raisins, pecans, and onion. Arrange a layer of Cheddar cheese on top. Repeat with another layer of bread, raisins, pecans, onions, and cheese.
• Slowly pour the reserved cinnamon water over the casserole, allowing the bread to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Do not allow the dish to overflow.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and place in the center of the preheated oven. Bake until lightly browned and puffed, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Place cocoa powder, cornstarch, sugar, salt, heavy cream, egg yolks, milk, and chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and strain mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl; discard solids. Immediately stir in butter and vanilla until well combined. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Transfer pudding to a refrigerator until chilled, about 4 hours.