Brown Bread Pudding with Juniper Custard

Ingredients

• stale brown bread, torn into pieces5 cups
• whole milk1 1/2 cups
• double cream1/2 cup
• eggs2
• dark brown sugar1/3 cup
• dried currants1/2 cup
• butter, melted2 tbsp
• juniper berries, lightly crushed4
• orange zest1 tsp
• saltpinch

Method

1. 1Heat the oven to 180°C and butter a baking dish.
2. 2Warm the milk, cream, juniper berries, and orange zest together until steaming, then steep for 5 minutes.
3. 3Whisk the eggs, sugar, and salt in a bowl, then strain in the warm dairy and mix well.
4. 4Add the bread pieces and currants, letting them soak until fully moistened.
5. 5Stir in the melted butter, spoon into the dish, and bake until puffed and set with a bronzed top.
6. 6Rest briefly, then serve warm with a little extra cream if desired.

Tips

• Do not overdo the juniper; it should whisper through the custard, not dominate it.
• Use sturdy brown bread so the pudding keeps texture rather than dissolving.

Nutrition