• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Chinese recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

    Chocolate Bread Pudding

    Published: Mar 14, 2019 · Modified: Dec 5, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 38 Comments

    843 shares
    • 435
    • 2
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Low Fat / Vegetarian

    We took a classic bread pudding and put a lighter spin on it by sweetening it with just a little honey, using brown seeded bread and then we added some dark chocolate chunks. Because, why not! This Chocolate Bread Pudding is total comfort food but a little lighter.

    Bread pudding on a white plate next to a serving spoon and a towel.

    Bread pudding is one of those classic school desserts that always brings back happy memories of eating it in the canteen full of hundreds of rowdy and sugar high kids. Nowadays, it is one of our favourite ways to reduce food waste as the bulk of the dish is bread. Got some bread that has gone a bit stale? It's screaming to be turned in to a chocolate bread pudding.

    If you are looking for some more comforting desserts, then why not try our Creamy Rice Pudding, Mixed Berry Crisp, or Apple and Plum Crumble.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • What is bread pudding?
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make chocolate bread pudding -Step by step
    • What bread to use
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestion
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More dessert recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Great way to use up bread - This chocolate bread pudding recipe ensures that no bread goes to waste. Bring stale bread back to life with this recipe.
    • Low in calories for an indulgent tasting dessert - This tastes far more indulgent than it actually is, as we have made a couple healthy swaps.
    • Kids will love it - Any dessert with chocolate gets a big thumbs up from kids, right?
    • Easy to adapt with different flavours - You can adapt it with different add-ins like dried fruit and nuts.

    What is bread pudding?

    Bread pudding is basically the combination of torn up leftover bread, milk, eggs and a sweetener. All soaked up together and then baked in the oven until gooey and crispy. Kind of like a sweet casserole. But there is so much more you can do with it and lots of ways to customise it.

    What does it taste like? It's kind of got the gooeyness of brownies, but the flavour of French toast and it's pretty dense. Then it takes on the flavour of whatever else you have added in to it.

    It's a classic British dessert and in the 13th century is was known as a poor man's pudding, because of the basic ingredients that it uses. Basic doesn't have to be boring and if you want comforting dessert that the whole family will love, then this is it.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Bread - You can use whatever bread you like, making this a great recipe to reduce food waste.
    • Milk - You can use any milk you like, and you could even use almond or cashew milk.
    • Egg - This is what makes up the majority of the mixture and gives it that lovely cakey texture.
    • Vanilla - This adds lots of flavour. Make sure you use extract and not essence.
    • Honey - This is what we have used to sweeten the chocolate bread pudding. You could use maple syrup instead, or another liquid sweetener.
    • Chocolate - It wouldn't be a chocolate bread pudding without it. We used a 70% dark chocolate, so it is really rich. You could use milk chocolate, or even use a flavoured chocolate like chocolate orange. You can us chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate.
    • Cinnamon - Chocolate and cinnamon is a delicious combination and a little pinch really brings out the flavours.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make chocolate bread pudding -Step by step

    One: Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Tear the bread and put it into a baking dish.

    A round baking dish containing torn pieces of bread.

    Two: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, honey, vanilla and cinnamon.

    A round bowl containing an egg and milk mixture with cinnamon.

    Three: Pour the milk mixture over the bread and make sure everything is covered. Put in the fridge for at least an hour.

    Egg and milk soaked bread in a round baking dish.

    Four: Take out of the fridge and sprinkle the chocolate chunks on top.

    Milk soaked bread in a baking dish with chocolate chips sprinkled over it.

    Five: Bake for 40 minutes.

    Baked Chocolate Bread Pudding in a round baking dish.

    What bread to use

    The great thing about this is you can use pretty much any bread - which is why it's so good for using up stale bread. We had some wholemeal seeded bread that needed using, so we tore that up to mix in. You can use regular white bread or you can even use croissants if you want to make it a little more indulgent.

    Variations

    We have made this chocolate bread pudding so many times over the year and I don't think we have made it the same way twice. Use this as a base recipe and then go crazy with the add-ons. You can mix in some chopped nuts (we like pecans) and dried fruit (cranberries or cherries go well with the chocolate).

    If you want a flavoured bread pudding, then orange or mint go well with chocolate. You can use orange or mint extract or swap a little of the milk for some orange juice and then grate some fresh orange zest on top when you sprinkle the chocolate.

    Serving suggestion

    You can serve it as it is, but if you want to make it more of an indulgent dessert, then serve it with some ice cream or frozen yogurt. A little drizzle of caramel sauce is a good addition too. Or, why not add our Chocolate Sauce for an extra chocolate flavour?

    Chocolate Bread Pudding on a plate in front of a dish of more bread pudding.

    FAQs

    Can chocolate bread pudding be made in advance?

    Yes, and there is some preparation that goes in to this dish that would suit it being made in advance. Once you have added the liquid to the bread, it then needs to go in the fridge for at least an hour so that the bread can soak everything up. But, you could leave it in the fridge for 4-5 hours and then put it in the oven 40 minutes before you are ready to eat it.

    Can you reheat bread pudding?

    This will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and then you can either eat it cold, at room temperature or heat it up in the oven. I do find that the texture changes when it reheats, so it's best eaten straight after cooking - you can always change the portion sizes if needed.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Stale bread is best to use, so this is a great recipe to reduce food waste.
    • You can add so many different things to this dessert. Nuts and dried fruit work well.
    • Want a flavoured bread pudding? Swap the vanilla extract for an orange or mint extract.
    • Add some extra creaminess by adding dots of cream cheese at the same time as the chocolate. It will all melt together to make these more indulgent.
    • Leftovers will keep in the fridge for about 3 days.

    More dessert recipes

    • Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon and Honey
    • Easy Banana Cake
    • Easy Mini Pancakes
    • Easy Apple and Pear Crumble

    If you’ve tried this chocolate bread pudding recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Chocolate bread pudding on a plate with raspberries and a ball of ice cream.

    Chocolate Bread Pudding

    This is no traditional bread pudding recipe, but that's not a bad thing. This Chocolate Bread Pudding is a healthy alternative to the traditional dessert.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.91 from 31 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 215kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 8 slice Brown bread
    • 300 ml Skimmed milk
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
    • 4 tablespoon Honey
    • 50 g Chocolate - dark
    • 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Tear the bread and put it into a baking dish.
      8 slice Brown bread
    • In a bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, honey, vanilla and cinnamon.
      300 ml Skimmed milk, 1 Egg, 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract, 4 tablespoon Honey, 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
    • Pour the milk mixture over the bread and make sure everything is covered. Put in the fridge for at least an hour.
    • Take out of the fridge and sprinkle the chocolate chunks on top. 
      50 g Chocolate
    • Bake for 40 minutes.

    Notes

    • Stale bread is best to use, so this is a great recipe to reduce food waste.
    • You can add so many different things to this dessert. Nuts and dried fruit work well.
    • Want a flavoured bread pudding? Swap the vanilla extract for an orange or mint extract.
    • Add some extra creaminess by adding dots of cream cheese at the same time as the chocolate. It will all melt together to make these more indulgent.
    • Leftovers will keep in the fridge for about 3 days.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 147IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • Chocolate Pots
    • Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake
    • Air Fryer Cookies
    • Christmas Star Biscuits

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Noelle

      March 22, 2019 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      what a great way to use up some left over bread! I love the chocolate in this recipe, can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    2. Anita

      March 15, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      5 stars
      Bread pudding is the best way to finish up those stale bread. And yours is looking mighty delicious. Personally, I always add some alcohol to make it more adult friendly, not that it's bad without it. ;)

      Reply
    3. Natalie

      March 15, 2019 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      We loveeee bread pudding in our house. Especially with chocolate. I absolutely love how your recipe sounds. Have to give it a try. This is going on my list to try next week.

      Reply
    4. Adriana

      March 15, 2019 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      I enjoy bread pudding but adding chocolate is a great idea makes it even better, I need to make your recipe soon have many of teh ingredients at home.

      Reply
    5. Kelly Anthony

      March 15, 2019 at 5:31 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a great excuse to use up an old loaf of bread. I'm always looking for ways to make a yummy dessert! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Tisha

      March 15, 2019 at 5:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love bread pudding...the addition of chocolate makes it that much better!

      Reply
    7. Meghna

      March 15, 2019 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for this recipe from such a long time. Thankfully I found it, lovely instructions. I would be making it asap & share the experience with ya.

      Reply
    8. Michelle Miller

      March 15, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful recipe! Looks a a great breakfast for the winter!

      Reply
    9. Heidy L. McCallum

      March 15, 2019 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      I have been thinking of making bread pudding but up until now had never thought of making it with chocolate! What a great idea and I bet my family would adore this recipe. I will touch base and let you know how it goes over.

      Have a great day
      Heidy

      Reply
    10. Danielle Wolter

      March 15, 2019 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      i'm not a huge bread pudding person, but you add chocolate like this and i immediately become one. this sounds awesome!!

      Reply
    11. Amy | The Cook Report

      March 15, 2019 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      Love that this is a great way to use up leftover stale bread!

      Reply
    12. Kelly

      October 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      This is a perfect winter warmer.

      Reply
    13. Dawn

      October 21, 2013 at 6:53 pm

      It is great that it is so low in fat too.

      Reply
    14. Gemma

      October 21, 2013 at 6:27 pm

      This sounds like my ideal dessert. Can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    15. Jackie

      October 21, 2013 at 6:15 pm

      Would this work with carob chips instead of chocolate chips?

      Reply
      • Dannii

        March 15, 2019 at 7:59 am

        Yes, no reason why not!

        Reply
    16. Hayley

      October 21, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      Bread and butter pudding is my husband's favourite dessert, so I think this will be made after our roast on Sunday. Thanks Dannii :)

      Reply
    17. Maria

      October 21, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      healthy chocolate dessert? Yes please!

      Reply
    18. Elizabeth

      October 21, 2013 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      I am definitely making this at the weekend. Yum.

      Reply
    19. Hannah

      October 21, 2013 at 5:40 pm

      I used to love bread pudding as a kid. I can't wait to make this for my family.

      Reply
    20. Mel

      October 21, 2013 at 5:36 pm

      This looks incredible!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.
    heart icon

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Chinese Recipes

    • Chilli Garlic Spicy Noodles
    • Asian Cucumber Salad
    • Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Soy Sauce Noodles
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef
    • Soy Ginger Salmon Noodles

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 435
    • 2
    843 shares