White and Milk Chocolate Monroe Bread Pudding

This is a family favorite! 
It takes our most popular bread, the Monroe, and adds even more decadence for a truly enjoyable hardy dessert. We truly hope you try this out and that it brings you and your loved ones happy hearts and tummies! 

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 75 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 loaf JiPan Monroe bread (roughly 350 grams / 12 oz)
3 large whole eggs
8 large egg yolks
2 cups cream
3 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 
2 T vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup white chocolate and milk chocolate chips*
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
Confectioners' sugar 
Your favorite vanilla ice cream

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and space two racks evenly. 

2. Cut Monroe bread into 1" cubes and spread evenly between two sheet pans. Place both trays in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the bread is lightly toasted.

3. For the custard, whisk together whole eggs, egg yolks, cream, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt and set aside. 

4. Transfer toasted Monroe bread into a 9x13 (3-quart) baking dish, mix with white chocolate chips until evenly distributed, and  and pour custard over the bread mixture evenly. Press the bread lightly with a fork so that all the pieces are soaked in the custard. Set aside and let this soak for about 10 minutes. Evenly dot with cubed butter.

5. Place the 9x13 baking dish into a roasting pan large enough to allow it to sit flat. Pour about 1" of hot water into the roasting pan being careful not drip any water into the custard. Tightly cover the baking tray with aluminium foil making sure it doesn't touch the custard. Poke a few holes into the foil with a small knife to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, uncover, and bake for another 30 minutes. Check to make sure the custard is fully cooked by inserting a knife into the middle, it should come out clean. 

6. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

7. This step is totally up to you! You can serve the warm bread pudding with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or, you can melt the ice cream and serve it as a sauce alongside your freshly baked bread pudding!

*If you like a mix of white chocolate, milk chocolate, or prefer dark chocolate, this step is totally up to you! Play with different combinations to come up with your favorite mix and as always, use the best chocolate chips you can get your hands on!