renee's chocolate orange bread pudding

a fun twist on an old favorite!!

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

4 large eggs
4 cups day-old french bread, crust removed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1/4 cup Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liqueur
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 6-cup (9 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch) loaf pan with the butter. Whisk the eggs, sugar , cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, melted chocolate, and Grand Marnier together in a large mixing bowl until very smooth. Add the half-and-half and mix well. Add the bread and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with the unmelted chocolate chips. Pour the remaining bread mixture over the chocolate chips. Bake until the pudding is set in the center, about 55 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. To serve, cut the pudding into 1-inch-thick slices. Top with the spiced cream.

Spiced Cream

1 quart heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp all spice
1 tablespoon fresh grated orange peel

Beat the cream with an electric mixer on high speed in a large mixing bowl for about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and beat again until the mixture thickens and forms stiff peaks (about 1 - 2 minutes), fold in grated orange peel.