Chocolate Bread Pudding

A 9x13-inch glass baking dish may be used in place of a gratin dish. Such a delicious dessert - Once again thanks to Martha Stewart!!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 2  cups heavy cream
• 2  cups milk
• 1  whole vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, seeds scraped
• 3  cinnnamon  sticks (optional)
• 1  loaf  brioche bread (about 1 lb, or you may substitute white bread)
• 12  ounces  valrhona bittersweet chocolate or 12  ounces  other bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped plus 1/4 cup shavings for garinsh
• 8  large  egg yolks
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) container creme fraiche

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 325°F Place the cream, milk, vanilla seeds and pod, and cinnamon sticks, if using, in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for 30 minutes to infuse flavors.
2. Cut the brioche into 1/4-inch thick slicesd. Cut slices into quarters, setting aside the rounded top pieces. Fill a 9x12-inch gratin dish or a deep oval roasting dish with the quartered pieces.
3. Return the milk mixrure to a boil, remove from heat, and discard vanilla pod and cinnamon sticks. Add chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Combine egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl, and whisk to combine. Pour chocolate mixture very slowly into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly, until fully combined.
4. Slowly pour half the chocolate custard over bread, making sure all the bread is soaked. Arrange the reserved bread on top in a decorative pattern, and press firmly so bottom layer of bread absorbs chocolate mixture. Spoon remaining custard over bread until completely covered and all cracks are filled. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the dish; press down to soak bread thoroughly. Remove plastic, wipe edges of the dish wirh a damp towel, and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Place gratin dish in a larger pan; fill outer pan with hot water halfway up the sides of the gratin dish. Bake until set, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes.
5. Whisk the creme fraiche until soft peaks form. Serve pudding warm, garnished with creme fraiche and chocolate shavings.