Chocolate-Cherry Croissant Bread Pudding

Chocolate and cherries complement each other very well. Although dried tart cherries are more common, look for dried sweet cherries to make this decadent bread pudding. They are often available in bulk at health-food stores or in the bulk section of your supermarket.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

FUNCTION: Manual/Pressure (High)

CLOSED POT TIME: 35 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes + 20 minutes cool

RELEASE: Natural

SERVES: 6

• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups 1-inch day-old croissant pieces
• ⅓ cup dried sweet cherries
• ⅓ cup chopped bittersweet chocolate

PREP

Place trivet in the Instant Pot®. Add the water to the pot. Butter a 1½-quart soufflé dish or casserole that fits in pot.

Whisk together eggs, sugar, half-and-half, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add croissant pieces and cherries; let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate and transfer mixture to prepared dish. Cover dish with foil and place on trivet. Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve.

COOK

Select manual and cook at high pressure 15 minutes. When cooking is complete, use a natural release to depressurize.

serve

Carefully remove dish from pot. Remove foil and let cool for 20 minutes before serving.