Preheat your oven to 350°F and butter a 13x9-inch baking dish to get things started.

In a large bowl, add your bread cubes and pour 8 tablespoons of melted butter over them. Give it all a good toss so the bread gets nicely coated. Toss in the chocolate chips and mix until everything's combined. Then, spread the mixture evenly into your buttered baking dish.

In another large bowl, whisk together the half and half, 1 cup of sugar, eggs, egg yolks, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until it’s smooth and well blended. Pour this creamy mixture over the bread cubes in the dish. Let it sit for 30 minutes so the bread soaks up all that goodness—press the cubes down into the liquid every now and then to help them absorb more.

Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the top, then sprinkle with brown sugar for a sweet, crispy finish.

Bake for about 1 hour, or until the pudding is golden brown and set in the center.

Serve it warm with a generous drizzle of Caramel Sauce and enjoy every gooey, chocolatey bite! 😋

To make the caramel sauce:

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, mix together the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter, and a pinch of salt. Cook while gently whisking for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken up.

Stir in the vanilla and let it cook for one more minute to get even thicker and extra flavorful.

Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool for a bit, then pour it into a jar. Pop it in the refrigator until it’s nice and cold, and use it whenever you’re ready for a sweet caramel treat! 🍯