Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding

10 cups bread cubes from Panera sourdough or country white, crusts removed

12 oz. chocolate chips

1 quart half and half

½ cup sugar

6 eggs, beaten slightly

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup canned tart cherries (NOT cherry pie filling)

Whipped cream to garnish

Remove crusts from bread and cut into 1-inch bread cubes.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave, 1 minute. Stir.  Continue to microwave for up to another minute, making sure chocolate does not burn.  Stir until smooth.  Heat cream and sugar in a saucepan until sugar dissolves and cream is hot but not boiling.  Pour hot cream over melted chocolate.  Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.  Then stir mixture until well blended.

Mix in beaten eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Spray a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with nonstick spray.  Place half of the bread cubes in pan.  Cover with half of the cherries (canned and dried).  Pour half of the chocolate mixture over.  Repeat another layer of bread, cherries and chocolate.  Press down gently on top of bread cubes to make sure they are completely covered with the chocolate mixture.  Cover with foil.

Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 50 minutes.  Remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool slightly and serve garnished with whipped cream.

Serves 12