Chocolate-Cherry Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter melted
• 3 cups chocolate milk 
• 1 tablespoon cocoa 
• 3 large eggs lightly beaten
• 6 cups bread french cubed
• 6 ounce maraschino cherries 
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels 
• 0.8 cup sugar 
• 9 servings garnishes: whipped cream sweetened

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven

Directions

1. Drain cherries, reserving 1 tablespoon cherry juice. Coarsely chop cherries.
2. Combine eggs, 1 tablespoon cherry juice, milk, and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well.
3. Add bread cubes, and let stand 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cherries and chocolate morsels.
4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9" square pan.
5. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until set.
6. Serve bread pudding warm or at room temperature.
7. Garnish, if desired.