Little balls of soft milk bun dough are baked on a bed of tangy rhubarb and strawberries, soaking up the bubbling juices while the fruit becomes luscious and jammy. A warm vanilla custard adds just the right note of creaminess.
Ingredients
Milk bun dough
Vanilla custard
Method
Main
1.For milk bun dough, pulse flour, sugar, yeast and a pinch of salt in an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook to combine. Mix in cream and egg, then add butter a little at a time, kneading until incorporated between additions. Knead until smooth and silky (3-4 minutes), then place in a buttered bowl, cover and leave in a warm place until doubled in size (1½-2 hours).
2.Preheat oven to 180C and butter a 4-litre round baking dish (about 26cm diameter) and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugars, flour, vanilla and juices in a bowl, toss to combine, then spread evenly in prepared baking dish.
3.Knock back bun dough and pinch off 20 even-sized pieces, roll each into a smooth ball and arrange closely in concentric circles over fruit mixture. Cover and stand in a warm place until buns rise by about a quarter (1-1¼ hours). Brush tops with extra cream and bake until buns are golden brown and fruit mixture is bubbling (1-1¼ hours). Stand for 5 minutes.
4.Meanwhile, for vanilla custard, whisk yolks and sugar in a bowl until pale (2-3 minutes). Bring cream, milk, and vanilla bean and seeds to a simmer in a saucepan, then, whisking continuously, add to yolk mixture. Return to pan and whisk continuously over medium-high heat until thick and just simmering (2-3 minutes). Strain into a jug or bowl (discard vanilla bean).
5.Dust pudding with icing sugar and serve hot with warm vanilla custard.