Summer Stone Fruit Bread Pudding Recipes

SUMMER PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring out the juices: Wash fruit and gently dry on kitchen paper - keep strawberries separate. Put sugar and 3 tbsp water into a large pan. Gently heat until sugar dissolves - stir a few times. Bring to a boil for 1 min, then tip in the fruit (not strawberries). Cook for 3 mins over a low heat, stirring 2-3 times. The fruit will be softened, mostly intact and surrounded by dark red juice. Put a sieve over a bowl and tip in the fruit and juice.
• Line the bowl with cling film and prepare the bread: Line the 1.25-litre basin with cling film as this will help you to turn out the pudding. Overlap two pieces of cling film in the middle of the bowl as it's easier than trying to get one sheet to stick to all of the curves. Let the edges overhang by about 15cm. Cut the crusts off the bread. Cut 4 pieces of bread in half, a little on an angle, to give 2 lopsided rectangles per piece. Cut 2 slices into 4 triangles each and leave the final piece whole.
• Build the pud: Dip the whole piece of bread into the juice for a few secs just to coat. Push this into the bottom of the basin. Now dip the wonky rectangular pieces one at a time and press around the basin's sides so that they fit together neatly, alternately placing wide and narrow ends up. If you can't quite fit the last piece of bread in it doesn't matter, just trim into a triangle, dip in juice and slot in. Now spoon in the softened fruit, adding the strawberries here and there as you go.
• Let flavours mingle then serve: Dip the bread triangles in juice and place on top - trim off overhang with scissors. Keep leftover juice for later. Bring cling film up and loosely seal. Put a side plate on top and weight down with cans. Chill for 6 hrs or overnight. To serve, open out cling film then put a serving plate upside-down on top and flip over. serve with leftover juice, any extra berries and cream.

SIMPLE SUMMER PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix the first 3 ingredients and leave for 5-10 mins. If you're using defrosted fruit, tip in some of the juice, too. Meanwhile, line a 1.2 litre pudding basin with cling film, leaving an overhang. Cut a circle of bread to fit the base, then quarter the rest.
• Drain the juices from the soaked fruit into a bowl, dip the bread in until soaked. Layer up the fruit and bread, pour over the remaining juices and cover with the overhanging cling film - weigh down with a small plate and a couple of cans. Chill in the fridge for 10 mins or until ready to eat. Serve with single cream.

SUMMER STONE FRUIT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. Can do ahead of time: If the bread is not stale, cut into cubes, place on a large cookie sheet and put into a 200 deg. F oven for 45 to 60 minutes until it's dried. I used 6 - 8 brioche slider buns.
• 2. Pre-heat your over to 350 deg. F.
• 3. Combine the first eight (8) ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat until the brown sugar is thoroughly dissolved, whisking occasionally. Do not let the milk boil.
• 4. Put the cubed bread in a large mixing bowl. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the bread and gently fold together to coat all of the bread. Don't add all of the milk mixture at one time so it doesn't get too soggy. Pour most of it in, combine and add more if needed. Add the beaten eggs and the cut-up fruit. Fold everything together to make sure all of the bread is coated.
• 5. Divide the mixture between the 6 compartments of a lightly greased large muffin tin. Or you can use a 9 x 9 baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle on the remaining brown sugar. Return to the oven for 10 minutes or until it's done to your liking. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

FRUIT AND NUT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the bread and sugar; set aside.
• In another bowl, beat eggs, half and half cream, cinnamon, salt and vanilla until foamy.
• Pour over bread mixture; mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Cut the apples from the pie filling in half; add apples and filling to bread mixture.
• Stir in pecans, raisins and butter.
• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until firm.
• Cut into spuares and serve warm or cold.