I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like bread pudding. This is my interpretation of this frugal classic and includes a few tweaks that wouldn’t look out of place in a Maltese bakery. Just make sure you use a large loaf of stale bread, a baguette or ciabatta simply wouldn’t work. Keep it in a biscuit tin in a cool dry place and it’ll keep for 3-4 days.
Ingredients:
450g stale crusty bread, crust included
750ml milk, semi-skimmed or full fat
100g sultanas
3 tbsp Amaretto or orange liquer (optional)
1 tbsp mixed spice
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tspn cornflour
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 medium egg
1 egg yolk
50g dark chocolate, broken into small chunks
Finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed orange,
8 glace cherries, halved
Things to prepare in advance:
1. (1 hour – overnight prior) Place sultanas in a bowl, add amaretto or orange liquer, stir, cover and allow to sit at room temp. This step is optional.
2. 30 mins in advance: Tear up the bread into chunks into a large mixing bowl, pour over the milk and allow to soak at room temp for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Preheat oven to 220C, grease a 16*16cm cake tin/baking tray with melted butter (I use a silicone tray).
3. Ensure that the bread is fully soaked in the milk before stirring in sultanas with a wooden spoon. Then add all of the remaining ingredients one at a time (except for the cherries), ensuring that each is well mixed before adding the next. You should be left with a wet, thick mixture. If it’s too dry add a little water, if it’s too wet add a little cornflour.
4. Pour the mixture into the cake tin/tray, smooth out the top with a wooden spoon and top with the cherries evenly spaced as in the photo. Place cake tin onto a baking tray in the centre of the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until it’s cooked through. Place a knife into the centre and it should come out dry.
5. Once cooled, slice into 16 squares and enjoy!!
I hope you enjoyed the recipe. Why not have a read of my Foodie Snapshots – Malta article, giving all foodies essential advice for a visit to the island!!
Keith's Kitchen 