Black Forest Bread Pudding

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 17
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 12 ounces dark rye bread (bread sliced 1/2 inch thick)
• 1 (12 ounce) package pitted frozen dark sweet cherries (you can also use a 16 oz. package)
• 2 (12 ounce) packages semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 1/4 cups whipping cream
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 8 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• whipped cream (opptional)
• sliced almonds (optional)

Recipe

• 1 butter a 3 quart rectangular baking dish with some of the butter.
• 2 spread remaining butter on bread slices.
• 3 place bread slices in baking dish, overlapping, if necessary, to fit.
• 4 sprinkle with frozen cherries, half the chocolate pieces, and the cinnamon; set aside.
• 5 in a medium saucepan combine remaining chocolate pieces, 1 cup of the whipping cream, and the sugar. heat and stir till the chocolate is melted. gradually stir in remaining cream.
• 6 beat eggs in a very large bowl.
• 7 stir in melted chocolate mixture and almond extract.
• 8 slowly pour over bread in dish.
• 9 cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.
• 10 preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• 11 uncover bread pudding and place baking dish on a foil lined baking sheet.
• 12 bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until an instant read thermometer register 160 degrees when inserted into middle.
• 13 cool on a wire rack at least 45 minutes.
• 14 serve warm.
• 15 garnish with whipped cream and almonds.