White Chocolate, Whiskey Croissant Butter Pudding

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups milk
2 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean
3 whole eggs
5 egg yolks
7 oz. granulated or superfine baker's sugar
3 large croissants
1 oz. golden raisins
1 oz. (1/4 stick/2 tbsp/28g) butter, melted
6 oz. good-quality white chocolate (white chocolate with at least 40% cocoa solids is recommended), grated
3 tablespoons whisky (Scotch whiskey is recommmended)
2 oz. apricot jam, slightly melted

Confectioners' sugar

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).

2. Pour the milk and cream into a pan, add the vanilla bean, and gradually bring to the boil.

3. Place the eggs, egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl and mix well.

4. While the milk and cream are heating, slice the croissants and place in an ovenproof dish, slightly overlapping the pieces. Sprinkle with golden raisins and pour the melted butter over it.

5. Once the milk/cream mixture has boiled, take it off the heat. Add the egg mixture and chocolate and stir well. Set aside to allow the chocolate to melt, stirring occasionally.

6. Add the whisky to the cream mixture. Next, using a sieve, strain the cream over the croissants, cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until almost set.

7. Remove from the oven, coat the top with the slightly melted jam, and dust with confectioners' sugar. Caramelize the topping using a very hot grill or, if you have one, a blow torch. This is best served at room temperature, with a spoonful of good ice-cream.

Makes 4 servings.

Tip:
The reason whole eggs are combined with egg yolks is that although the whites make the mixture tough, they’re actually needed to make it set. The extra egg yolks makes the mixture more smooth and creamy. Be careful not to over-cook the dish, overcooking can make the custard curdle.

Source: Recipe adapted from "Eating with James Martin" by James Martin (Foreward by Antony Worrall Thompson).

Date: October 24, 2004