Banana & Chocolate Bread Pudding

Yield: 10 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened, for baking dish 
• 12 ounces brioche cut into 1-inch cubes (or any bread of your liking)  
• 2 cups milk 
• 3 cups heavy cream 
• 5 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract 
• 1/4 cup chopped chocolate of your choosing 
• 1/2 cup diced banana 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside.
3. Put bread cubes in a large mixing bowl; set aside.
4. In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, heat milk and cream until just about to simmer; remove from heat.
5. In separate mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla.
6. Whisking egg mixture constantly, slowly add warm cream mixture in a steady stream until incorporated. Pour mixture over bread; fold in banana to combine, and let stand 30 minutes, tossing and pressing occasionally to submerge bread.
7.  With a slotted spoon, transfer bread to buttered baking dish; pour liquid in bowl over top. Using a spoon, turn the top layer of bread crust side up
8. Top the mixture with chopped chocolate.
9. Set dish in a roasting pan; transfer to oven. Pour boiling water into pan to reach about halfway up sides of baking dish.  
10. Bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Let baking dish cool on a rack 10 to 20 minutes.
11. Can be served with whipped cream or dolce de leche.

Recipe by Chef Dennis Peckham for Notch8