Pain Au Chocolat Bread Pudding With Cranberries And Chocolate Sauce Food

CROISSANTS AND PAIN AU CHOCOLAT

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: Melt the 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Allow the butter to cool to room temperature. It should appear milky and should be pourable and warm to the touch. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the cold water. Place the flour, salt, sugar, milk, and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Set the mixer on medium speed and mix just until the ingredients are dispersed, about 5 seconds. Add the dissolved yeast and beat on medium-high speed until the dough is well combined and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl, about 1 minute.
• If the dough is too soft, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time until it is firmer. (The dough is too soft when it cannot hold its shape.) If the dough is too hard, add cold water one tablespoon at a time until it has softened. (The dough is too hard when it is difficult to mix in the mixer.)
• Remove the dough from the mixing bowl. If the dough is slightly sticky and ropy, knead it with your hands for about 30 seconds, until it is smooth. Pat it into a ball. Place the dough on a lightly floured baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and let it proof at room temperature for about 30 minutes. (This will start the fermentation process).
• Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and roll it out to an 8 by 15-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Wrap the rectangle in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. The cold retards the rising process, which allows for a slow fermentation. A slow fermentation helps develop the flavor of the dough.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator, unwrap the rectangle, and place it with a long side facing you on a lightly floured work surface. Spread the softened butter evenly over the right two thirds of the dough. I like to use a large offset spatula to do this. Incorporate the butter by folding the (butterless) left third of the dough over the center, then fold the right third of the dough to the left. Now it should resemble a folded letter.
• Roll this out into another 10 by 30-inch rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Give the dough a book fold, or double fold, by folding each short end to the middle so they meet but do not overlap. Then fold one half over the other half and, if necessary, rotate the dough so that the seam is on your right. (This process is called a book fold because the folded dough resembles a book and a double fold because the dough is folded onto itself two times.)
• Wrap the folded dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours. (At this stage I usually let the dough rest overnight and finish it in the morning.)
• The following procedure is the final step before you form the croissants or pain au chocolat. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, unwrap it, and place on a lightly floured work surface. Roll it into a 10 x 30-inch rectangle and turn it so a long side faces you. Give the dough a single fold by folding the left third of the dough over the center. Then fold the right third of the dough to the left. Now the dough should resemble a folded letter.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured work surface. Roll out the dough into a 10 by 36-inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Keep the thickness even and the edges straight. This will make it easier to cut the croissants or pain au chocolat.
• These puff pastry items are best eaten the day they are made.
• Follow instructions for basic dough, above.
• With a sharp chef's knife, cut the dough into 3 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch rectangles. Lay each rectangle on a lightly floured work surface, with a long side facing you, and place about 1/2 tablespoon of the chopped chocolate in the upper third of each one. Fold that third of the dough over the chocolate.
• Place about another 1/2 tablespoon of the chocolate along one seam of the folded dough. Fold the bottom third of the dough over the chocolate. (At this stage, they can be frozen for up to one week if well wrapped in plastic wrap. Thaw on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding.)
• Turn over the pain au chocolat so the seams face down. This will keep them from opening as they bake. Place them on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet; they will get bigger as they proof and bake, so space them about 2 inches apart. Loosely cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and allow the pain au chocolat to proof at room temperature until they have doubled in size and appear light and full of air, 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the temperature of the room and of the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Make an egg wash by whisking together the egg yolks, whole egg, and milk in a small bowl until well combined. With a pastry brush, very gently coat the croissants or pain au chocolat completely with egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. I love to eat both of them fresh out of the oven. If you have any leftovers, they can be stored in the freezer if well wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 2 weeks. Thaw at room temperature and warm in the oven before serving.
• Follow instructions for basic dough, above.
• Use a sharp chef's knife to cut out triangles with a 2 1/2-inch base and 10-inch sides. Lay each triangle on a lightly floured work surface with the tip facing you. Gently pull the tip toward you; this light stretch adds layers to the finished croissant without adding density. Use the palms of your hands to roll each triangle up from the base to the tip. (At this stage, they can be frozen for up to one week if well wrapped in plastic wrap. Thaw on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding.)
• Place the rolled croissants on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. The croissants will get bigger as they proof and bake, so space them about 2 inches apart. Loosely cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap. This keeps the croissants from developing a skin while proofing and traps the heat released during fermentation, which helps them to rise. Allow the croissants to proof at room temperature until they have doubled in size and appear light and full of air; this can take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the temperature of the room and of the dough.

CREAMY CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the crusts off the bread and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 3 1/2 cups of cubes. Arrange on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Watch carefully to make sure they do not brown too much; set aside to cool. Leave the oven on.
• In a saucepan, heat the half-and-half, cream, salt, and vanilla bean over medium heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat. Set aside to infuse 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Whisking constantly, gradually add the hot cream mixture. Strain into a large bowl to smooth the mixture and remove the vanilla bean. Add the bread cubes, toss well and let soak until absorbed. Fold the mixture occasionally to ensure even soaking.
• In a small saucepan, heat the orange juice to a simmer. Add the cranberries and simmer until plumped and softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup for garnish.
• Fold in remaining 3/4 cup of cranberries into bread pudding mixture. Divide the mixture among 6 ramekins, custard cups, or dessert cups, (or use a deep baking dish). Divide the soaked bread among the dishes, then pour any remaining custard over the bread. Dot with remaining cranberries.
• Arrange the puddings in a hot water bath. Bake until set and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes for individual puddings and 40 to 45 minutes for 1 large pudding. Serve warm or chilled, dusted with confectioners' sugar.

PAIN AU CHOCOLAT BREAD PUDDING WITH CRANBERRIES AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large baking pan dry bread, uncovered, at room temperature 12 hours. (Alternatively, dry bread in a 250°F oven 1 hour.)
• Butter a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Chop chocolate. In a food processor finely chop cranberries. Arrange half of bread in one layer in baking dish and sprinkle evenly with half of chocolate and all of cranberries. Top mixture with remaining bread.
• In a bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, milk, 1/2 cup cream, vanilla, and salt and pour slowly and evenly over bread. Cut butter into bits and dot pudding with it. Chill pudding, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake pudding in middle of oven until slightly puffed and golden, about 40 minutes.
• In a small metal bowl set over a small saucepan of barely simmering water melt remaining chocolate and whisk in remaining 1/4 cup cream and a pinch salt until combined well. Keep sauce warm, covered.
• Serve pudding warm or at room temperature with sauce.

CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12x8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place bread and cranberries in baking dish; toss to mix.
• In large bowl, with wire whisk, beat eggs, brown sugar, cocoa and half-and-half until well blended. Pour over bread mixture. Stir mixture gently with large spoon to coat bread with liquid. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir mixture.
• Bake uncovered 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
• In 1-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar, butter, baking chips and whipping cream. Cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in bourbon (sauce will be thin). Serve sauce over warm bread pudding.

PAIN AU CHOCOLAT BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150°C/Gas mark 2. Cut each pain au chocolat into three equal pieces widthways and pack them into a baking dish.
• Mix the milk and cream in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the chocolate and stir until smooth.
• Mix the sugar and eggs in a bowl and pour the chocolate mixture over, whisking constantly. Then slowly pour the custard over the pain au chocolat, allowing the custard to be absorbed before adding more.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until the top is lightly crisp but the centre is still wobbly. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CRANBERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottom of a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan with parchment; grease parchment. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk the egg, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and chocolate chips. Transfer to prepared pan., In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes., Cool for 10 minutes; loosen sides of bread from pan. Cool completely before removing from pan. For the glaze, mix confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons milk until smooth; if needed, add additional 1 tablespoon milk to reach desired consistency. Drizzle glaze over top of bread; allow to sit 10-15 minutes before slicing. ,

CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• FOR THE BREAD PUDDING: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then coat the inside of a 13"x9" glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, cocoa & half-and-half until well blended.
• Add the bread pieces & stir gently with a large spoon to coat bread with the liquid. Let this bread mixture set for 10 minutes.
• Add cranberries (along with the dark chocolate & orange zest, if using) & stir once again before pouring the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish, making sure that the cranberries are well-distributed.
• Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• FOR THE SAUCE: In a 1-quart saucepan, stir together the granulated sugar, butter, baking chips & whipping cream, then cook over medium heat for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened & smooth.
• Remove from heat & stir in the vanilla. Sauce will be thin.
• Serve sauce over warm bread pudding.

CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer half of the bread cubes, cranberries and orange zest. Repeat layers. Drizzle with butter. , In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla until blended; pour over bread mixture. Let stand for 15-30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. , Bake, uncovered, for 65-75 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean., For sauce, in a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks and sugar. Stir in cream and orange zest strip. Cook over low heat about 15-20 minutes or until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 160°, stirring constantly but gently. Do not allow to boil. Immediately transfer to a bowl., Place bowl in an ice-water bath for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in extract. Discard orange zest. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve with bread pudding.