This Capirotada recipe (Costa Rican Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe) is incredibly decadent and so delicious!
Okay guys, I have a confession. This was the first time I ever made pudding. And I was kind of scared.
My mom told me that when she’s tried to make pudding it almost never ends up resembling anything similar to pudding, so I figured this would kind of be a lost cause. Let me tell you, this Capirotada recipe is SO incredibly easy and the pudding comes out just perfect.
The pudding itself is silky smooth, while the bread turns into ooey-gooey-chewy chocolate custard pieces. It’s just warm and delicious and wonderful.
The best way to make this Capirotada is in a good-sized casserole dish so the pudding spreads out in a thin layer. This helps it cook faster and achieve that wonderful thick and creamy texture.
It’s baked in a water bath, which I know sounds really scary, but I promise it isn’t. Just follow these tips for an easy water bath experience:
Before you get started, look through your dishes and pans to find the ones you want to use. You’ll need a rimmed pan or baking sheet that you can fill with water about halfway up the side of the dish you put the pudding in. (Don’t make the same mistake I did; make sure the baking dish you use actually fits inside the water bath pan!) My casserole dish fits perfectly in my big roasting pan, but use whatever works best for you!
Place the baking dish on the water bath pan and put it in the oven before you pour hot water into the pan surrounding your baking dish. It’s a lot harder to lift a heavy load of two dishes and hot water and put it in the oven than it is to pour water into the set-up once it’s sitting in there.
When you are ready to take it out of the oven, just remove the baking dish itself, but leave the water bath dish in the oven and let the water cool. It’s not fun to try to lug a bit heavy pan full of extremely hot water out of the oven!
Okay, that about does it with the water bath talk.
Once it’s baked, sprinkle some salted almond slivers over the top to add a bit more texture and bring out the sweetness of the chocolate.
Serve it up in pretty individual dishes (maybe even with some whipped cream if you’re feeling particularly dangerous).
Oh those chewy bread pieces just kill me! So darn delicious. I ate way too much of this and then realized that I’m going to be in a bathing suit in Greece in less than three months so it’s probably time to get back in the gym.
Oh, chocolate bread pudding. Until next time, my friend.
Capirotada Recipe (Costa Rican Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe)
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed egg bread - such as challah, with or without crust
- 2 c. whole milk
- 1 c. coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c. white sugar
- 2 Tbsp. sliced almonds
Instructions
- Toast the egg bread cubes by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet and putting them in a 325 degree oven for five minutes.
- Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until bubbles form around the edges. Turn the heat down to low, then add the chocolate and cinnamon. Whisk constantly until the chocolate melts, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes, until just warm.
- Meanwhile, beat the eggs and sugar together in a large bowl until creamy and light (about 3 minutes). Drizzle in the chocolate mixture and mix well. Add the bread cubes and toss to coat. Let stand 30 minutes so the bread can soak up the liquid.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Transfer the bread mixture to a buttered casserole dish and cover with foil. Set the casserole dish on a large, rimmed, deep baking pan. Place the baking pan in the oven, then pour enough hot water into the baking sheet to come up half way to the top of the casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes, then uncover, and cook another 20 minutes until the pudding feels firm to the touch. Garnish with almond slices and serve warm.
Nutrition
If I refrigerate the mixture to bake later, will it turn solid?
Hi April,
You can refrigerate the mixture to bake later. I wouldn’t do it more than 1 day in advance. Don’t add the bread unless you like an extra mushy, soggy texture. Some like this and some do not.
– Linda
I made this over the weekend for my Tico. I loved it, it was ooey-gooey and just perfect. Almost like Mexican hot chocolate combined with bready goodness. One question, which region of Costa Rica did this come from? Although superbly delicious, my Tico from San Ramon, Alajuela hadn’t heard of it. I’d love to know!
Hi, Amber! I’m so glad you and your Tico liked it! I’m not sure which region it comes from – I had read about it in a cookbook (noted on the recipe) and it just sounded too delicious not to make!
I usually don’t make my bread pudding in a water bath, but hey, I’d be down to try it!
Give it a shot!
Wow the bread pudding looks so yummy, almost looks like cubes of chocolate ice cream! Recently had bread pudding for the first time, would love to try this one out 🙂
Hi, Shells! I’m a recent convert to the bread-pudding church, too 😉
Oh Wow! Chocolate bread pudding! I love it that the bread looks sufficiently moist but is not soggy as with most bread puddings I have had. A must try for me 🙂
Thank you so much! I like my bread pudding on the dry side, too 🙂