Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding With Warm Vanilla Sauce

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 6 -8 thick slices brioche bread, crusts removed (or other good white bread such as challah)
• 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
• Warm Vanilla Sauce Ingredients
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 tablespoon Bourbon (optional)
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees .
2. Melt 1/2 stick butter in a 9 x 13-inch glass baking dish.
3. Cut brioche bread into 2-inch cubes, and press into the buttered dish.
4. In a medium bowl, stir together all other ingredients (except chocolate chips), stirring to combine well, and pour evenly over the cubed Brioche.
5. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
6. Bake the pudding for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Warm Vanilla Sauce:
8. Meanwhile, place all vanilla sauce ingredients in sauce pan.
9. Heat gently and stir often. Don't overcook, only about 5 minutes. Remove vanilla pod just before serving.
10. Scoop bread pudding into twelve individual serving dishes, drizzle 2 spoonfuls of warm vanilla sauce over top of each serving. Heaven!

eggs, sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, cream, semisweet chocolate chips, bread, butter, vanilla sauce ingredients, sugar, cream, bourbon, vanilla bean, butter

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-brioche-bread-pudding-with-warm-vanilla-sauce-412943 (may not work)