Hot Cocoa Bread Pudding

This Hot Cocoa Bread Pudding is a rich and decadent dessert, combining fluffy brioche bread with chocolatey custard, melty marshmallows, and a touch of nostalgia. Perfect for a cozy evening or as a holiday treat, this dessert is made effortlessly in the Instant Pot.

Cuisine

American

Course

Dessert

Difficulty

Medium

Duration

45 Minutes

Cooking Technique

Sauté, Pressure Cook

Keywords

Brioche Bread, Cocoa, Eggs, Hot Cocoa, Instant Pot, Instant Pot Culinary Team

Prep Time

15 Minutes

Cook Time

30 Minutes

Servings

6 Servings

Ingredients

6 ½ cups brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups whole milk
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for serving
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more as needed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
½ tsp. salt
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Handful of mini marshmallows

Instructions

Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode on High for 5 minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Whisk in milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Continue whisking until the sugar is dissolved and the cocoa powder is fully incorporated. Press Cancel to stop Sauté mode.
In a small bowl, add the beaten eggs. Slowly pour in ½ cup of the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs without curdling. Gradually add the warmed egg mixture back to the hot milk mixture, whisking until fully combined.
In a large bowl, pour the custard over the cubed brioche bread. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to cool slightly and allow the bread to soak. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Butter a 2-quart CorningWare baking dish. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the dish.
Clean out the Instant Pot and add 1 ½ cups of water. Place the baking dish on a trivet and lower the trivet into the Instant Pot. Seal the lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 25 minutes.
Allow a 15-minute natural release, then flip the valve to release any remaining pressure.
While the bread pudding is still warm, dot the top with mini marshmallows. The residual heat will melt them slightly.
Serve warm or at room temperature with a dusting of cocoa powder. Enjoy!