Friday Food: Hot Cross Bun And Butter Pudding

I had two left over Hot Cross Buns, buns I really didn't want to toast or waste. It can be a problem at Easter, the far too enthusiastically purchased Hot Cross Bun, languishing in the cupboard. I saw a recipe for a Hot Cross Bun'n'Butter Pudding, which my holiday-addled mind could simply not cope with. Instead I used a far easier one as inspiration, and it turned out surprisingly well. You don't need to heat anything or turn on an electric appliance, other than the oven!!!

You can add marmalade, chocolate, extra spices, jam or cream to the pudding, but my recipe just uses milk, eggs and sugar. I did sneak in a little vanilla extract. And Bob's your uncle.

I think the secret to any bread and butter pudding is soaking the bread in the custard for a little while before it is baked. I soaked, or rested, mine for about 15 minutes, and I didn't even bake it bain marie. I just put it straight into the oven.

You can eat the pudding hot, warm, or cold. I like it every way. It is easy to double the recipe too, though you may need to increase the baking time. The pudding is cooked when it is set around the edges and there is just a tiny wobble in the centre. I found this could be hard to see through all the buns, so I cut the pudding open with a knife to check.

 

Simple Hot Cross Bun and Butter Pudding    serves 4

• 2-4 Hot Cross Buns
• 3 eggs
• 3 tbspn caster sugar
• 300ml milk, or pouring cream
• butter

Whisk the milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla together.

Cut the buns into three or four slices. I like to keep the cross on top, so I cut horizontally. Butter all except for the top slice. Place into an ovenproof dish. It should hold at least 6 cups.

Gently pour the custard mxture over the buns and then, if you like, cover with some baking paper and gently weigh down for 15 minutes or even longer. The buns will soak up most, if not all, of the liquid.

Preheat the oven to 180*C and bake for 20-30 minutes. Check it is done by looking for a pudding that is set, with a slight wobble in the centre.

Let it stand for a few minutes and then spoon into bowls and dust with some icing sugar. Maybe some cream, or ice-cream, as well???

Comments

[cath]

Yum!! I didnt make buns this year as I was going to be on my own with youngest and he doesnt like fruit buns and I thought Id be lazy,I got a pack of different ones from a very good baker in Kalgoorlie ,the choccy ones disappeared in minutes but I was didnt enjoy my fruit ones,the bread lacked flavor although very dark with spice and as usual hardly any fruit,

[kgirlknits]

Such a good idea!!!

[Cakelaw]

This looks delicious - a great way to use up those extra buns.

[Megan]

Not even bain marie!! Now that is exciting. I love bread and butter pudding but I'm always quite nervous getting it out of the oven because between the weight of the pudding and the weight of the dishes and the water I get worried I'm going to slosh myself with super hot water.

[RoseRed]

What a good idea. I've made BnB pudding before with croissants and pain au chocolat, also nice. No leftover hot x buns here though now. Will have to wait until Boxing Day now, heh heh