Chocolate Hot Cross Bun and Butter Pudding with Apples and Spice topped with Vanilla Ice Cream

Easter celebration is over and now's the time to figure what to do with the leftover hot cross buns. 

As I was reading the newspaper, I came across this recipe by Chef Neil Perry. 

It sounded delicious judging from its ingredients but please note I 
omitted a few ingredients because they were not available in my pantry at that time. 

Still this recipe turned out absolutely wonderful! The flavours and textures are perfect. 

You can't go wrong with this Neil Perry recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup caster sugar
seeds from 4 cardamon pods
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
100g unsalted butter, softened
6 hot cross buns (I used chocolate flavoured ones) 
4 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
3 granny smith apples
2 tbsp demerara sugar or brown sugar

Method:
* In a saucepan, pour milk and cream with caster sugar and spices. Bring to boil and set aside for 1/2 hour to infuse the flavours. Pass through a sieve.
* Use a deep baking dish and lightly brush the sides and base with softened butter.
* Slice buns from top to bottom into five slices.
* Whisk eggs and egg yolks in a bowl together. Warm the milk again and slowly pour the mixture over the eggs. Whisk and mix well.
*Preheat the oven to 140C.
* Slice the apples, you can leave the skin on. Remove any seeds.
* Alternately arrange the bun and apple slices in the baking dish. Pour the infused milk slowly into the dish. Stand for 10 minutes to allow bread to soak up the liquid. Sprinkle with demerara sugar. 
* Place the baking dish in a roasting tin and pour hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the dish. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes until pudding is set and top a bit browned. 
* Remove from oven and let it stand for few minutes before serving.
* Great served with vanilla ice cream or condensed milk. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon powder.



Recipe adapted fom Chef Neil Perry (Original recipe click here.)

Great served with condensed milk and cinnamon powder...

... or simply with vanilla ice cream.