Bread and Butter Pudding

Serves 6, 45 minutes Preparation, 30 minutes Baking

An old family favourite, Bread and Butter pudding is the ultimate in warming comfort food.

Ingredients:

• For the Bread and Butter Pudding:
• 200g raisins
• 100g  caster sugar
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 8 slices white bread
• 50g softened butter and extra for greasing
• 1 grated Nutmeg

For the Custard filling:

• 2 large eggs
• 100ml double cream
• 200ml milk
• 25g granulated sugar

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/355F/Gas 4
2. Grease a large heat-proof dish.
3. Butter the bread on one side and slice into triangles or rectangles, removing the crusts if you wish.
4. Place a layer of buttered bread into the dish, then sprinkles with half the sultanas a tsp of mixed spice, and half the grated nutmeg.
5. Repeat the process until all the bread has been used in the dish, then set aside before making the custard filling.
6. For the custard filling in a small pan gently heat the milk and cream, but do not allow it to boil.
7. In a mixing bowl beat the eggs with most of the sugar until smooth.
8. Remove the milk and cream mixture from the heat, then add to the eggs and whisk.
9. Strain the mixture and pour the custard all over the Bread and Butter Pudding.
10. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar and nutmeg on top of the pudding and then set aside for 30 minutes.
11. Once the oven is heated place the dish into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. The custard should be wobbly, not runny, and the bread will turn crispy and a delicious golden brown.
12. Serve immediately, plain or with ice cream.