- 1 medium (about 12 ounces/340 grams) loaf day-old French or country-style bread (avoid sourdough)
- 4 whole large eggs plus 2 yolks from large eggs
- ½ cup (4 ounces/113 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 3 cups (24 fl ounces/700 ml) half and half, or 1 ½ cups (12 ounces/350 ml) each heavy cream and whole milk
- ½ pint (5 ounces/42 grams/about 1 cup) raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries, rinsed and well dried
- Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce (recipe below)
- Blueberry Sauce (recipe below)
- 6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- ½ cup (4 fl ounces.117 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons water
- Pinch of table salt
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce/28 grams) unsalted butter
- 3 pints (12 ounces/340 grams) blueberries, rinsed and well dried
- 2/3 cup (5 ¼ ounces/149 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Pinch of table salt
- For the Pudding:
- Trim away the tough ends and bottom crust form the bread. Cut into slices ¾ inch (2cm) thick, and then in ¾-inch (2cm) cubes (don’t fuss too much with the size as they won’t all be uniform). Measure 5 cups (10 ounces/284 grams) of the cubes.
- Lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 8-cup baking dish (I often use and 8-inch/20cm square Pyrex) and add the bread cubes in an even layer.
- In a medium bowl, combine the whole eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Whisk until well blended. Pour in the half-and-half or cream and milk and whisk until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature, pressing down on the bread occasionally, until the bread is evenly soaked, 20 minutes to 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, position the oven rack on the middle rung. Heat the oven to 350 degrees (180°C). have ready a large baking pan with 3-inch (7.75cm) sides.
- Scatter the berries evenly on top of the pudding and gently press on them so that they are submerged but still slightly visible. Set the baking dish in the baking pan. Carefully fill the baking pan with hot water to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until a small paring knife inserted near the center of the pudding comes out almost clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer the baking pan to a rack, carefully lift out the baking dish, and set on a rack to cool. Serve warm, or let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Drizzle each serving with the chocolate or berry sauce, if desired.
- For the Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate, cream, water, and salt. Set the pan over medium heat and heat, whisking constantly, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Slide the pan from the heat, add the butter, and whisk until melted and smooth. Serve immediately, or cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
- For the Blueberry Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups (8 ounces/227 grams) of the blueberries, the brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly, until the berries are soft and the liquid is syrupy, about 3 minutes. Slide the pan from the heat, add the remaining 1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) of berries, and gently press them against the side of the pan with the back of a spoon until lightly crushed. Serve immediately, or cool, over, and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.