Comfort Food at
Its Sweetest

Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

I did a poll and asked if you’d like this Bread & Butter Pudding or some Valentines Treat ideas for today’s Cake Monday. Looks like romance is out the door in favour of some comfort food this week, with almost 3:1 preferring Raspberry Bread & Butter Pudding.

I don’t blame you, at the moment there’s nothing nicer than cuddling up in front of the fire with a bowl of this, some custard or cream drizzled over the top and a good movie on the TV….it’s down to simple pleasures these days I’m afraid!!!

Raspberry Bread in a baking dash on a kitchen countertop.
Raspberry Bread in a baking dash on a kitchen countertop.
Raspberry Bread & Butter Pudding

Comfort food with a little twist….adding in some fresh / frozen raspberries and spreading a really good quality raspberry jam on the bread before baking, turns this into something a little bit special.

I like to use a sliced pan for this but try go for a good local loaf baked in one of the smaller bakeries (I used a crusty sliced loaf from Fields of Skibbereen). They are less doughy & dense and even though you will be trimming the slices, the loaves tend to have nice darker crusts too.

Ingredients:
  • 150g fresh raspberries (punnet) or 200g frozen raspberries
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 12 slices of bread, crusts removed
  • Butter, softened
  • 300ml single cream
  • 400ml whole milk
  • 4 free range eggs
  • 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Method:

1. Sprinkle 2 or 3 tablespoons from the caster sugar over the fruit and leave in a bowl to one side.
2. Preheat oven to 180C. Lightly butter the bread on both sides and spread the raspberry jam on one side. Place 3 or 4 slices buttered side down, enough to cover the base of the dish. You may need to cut slices to fit but keep off-cuts for further layers.
3. Scatter half the fruit over the base then continue to layer up alternating between the bread and fruit. I like to finish the top with slices that I’ve cut into triangles (see image below).
4. To make the soaking custard, place the milk and cream in a small saucepan and slowly bring to the boil. While you wait for it to boil, whisk the eggs, vanilla and remaining caster sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Just as the milk & cream reaches the boil, slowly pour it over the egg and sugar mix, whisking continuously as you do it.
5. Pour the custard mix over the bread slices and allow to soak for approx 10 minutes. Scatter with the granulated sugar before placing in the preheated oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden and lightly puffed.
6. Serve warm with fresh custard, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Berries on the side are good too!

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up