Chocolate Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
• 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 8 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pound brioche, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (9 ounces)
For the Topping:
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream with the milk and vanilla bean and bring just to a boil over moderately high heat. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Discard the vanilla bean and bring the cream mixture just to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the finely chopped chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and salt. Very gradually whisk in the hot cream mixture until smooth. In another large bowl, toss the brioche with half of the chocolate cream and the chocolate chips.
5. Spread the soaked bread in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and then pour the remaining chocolate cream on top. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
6. Bake the bread pudding for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is glossy and the center is set.
7. Make the topping by melting the chocolate chips in the microwave for a few seconds and stirring in the heavy cream until smooth.
8. Pour over the top of the bread pudding and serve warm or at room temperature.