29 March 2024

Hot cross bread and butter pudding

This hot cross bread and butter pudding is “really indulgent”, says Tom Kerridge in The Observer. And it’s easy to pull together – the perfect Easter treat if you don’t want leftover buns to go to waste.

Ingredients (serves 4)
600ml double cream
2 tsp vanilla paste
Peel of 1 orange
12 egg yolks
180g golden caster sugar
8 hot cross buns
Softened butter (to butter the buns)
100g golden raisins
1 whole nutmeg
2 tbsp demerara sugar

Method
1. Put the cream, vanilla and orange peel in a pan and bring to the boil. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Pour the hot cream on to the egg and sugar mix, whisking continuously. Set aside.
3. Cut the hot cross buns in half and butter each cut side. Arrange in an oven dish in three layers, scattering raisins between each one and grating nutmeg on the bottom two. Pour over the cream mixture and push down into the hot cross buns. Leave to soak for an hour before sprinkling the demerara over the top.
4. Preheat the oven to 180C fan/gas mark 6. Place the dish in a large roasting tray and pour boiling water into the tray, so it comes halfway up the dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the custard is cooked and a golden crust has developed.
5. Serve with rhubarb compote. To make from scratch, simply mix 500g roughly chopped rhubarb with 100ml water, 250g golden caster sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla paste and the zest from one orange and one lemon. Cook low and slow until soft and thick, then chill.

Whether it’s a glass of red with a leg of lamb, a crisp white to usher in spring, or something sparkling to share with family and friends, here are some of my top wine picks for Easter weekend, says Victoria Moore in The Daily Telegraph.

Deux Grives Grande Réserve Shiraz 2022, Pays d’Oc, France, 13.5%, House of Townend, £8.99
This sumptuous, spicy Shiraz is “a belter” – all juicy black berries with a lick of liquorice. Perfect with roast lamb and excellent value.

Vilarnau Rosé Delicat Cava Organico Reserva 2020, Spain, 12%, Majestic, £13.99
This Barcelona-hailing bottle was inspired by Gaudi’s mosaics, and the sparkling Cava Rosé inside is “just as joyful”, with fresh and juicy flavours of raspberries and light floral aromas.

Pikes Traditionale Riesling 2022/23, Clare Valley, Australia, 12%, The Great Wine Co, £19.95
This “superbly pure Riesling” has sweet and sour notes of lemon sorbet with lime leaf and zesty aromatics. Great with roast pork.