Prep 20min (+1day macerating, 30min cooling, 1-2hr chilling time)Bake 50minMakes 10-12 serves

The secret to a silky smooth baked custard is the balance of eggs to milk and cream and gentle baking. This velvety one is teamed with macerated prunes for a memorable dessert.

Prep 30min (+30-60min standing time)Bake 1hr 10minMakes 10-12 serves

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Comforting Custard.

CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson. 

Prep 15minBake 1hr 40minMakes 6-8 serves

Rice pudding is the ultimate in comfort food. Coconut milk gives this version a contemporary twist and when topped with vanilla-baked rhubarb, it is a winter pudding you will want to make time and time again.

Ingredients

melted butter, to grease
110g (½ cup) Arborio rice
375ml (1½ cup) milk
270ml can coconut milk
2 tablespoons caster sugar
10g (2 teaspoons) butter
toasted flaked coconut or roasted coconut chips (see Baker’s Tips), to serve (optional)

Baked rhubarb

1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
75g (⅓ cup) caster sugar
1 bunch rhubarb, trimmed, washed and cut into 7cm lengths (you will have about 550g trimmed weight)

Method

1. To make the Baked rhubarb, preheat oven to 200°C. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean, place into a medium bowl with the sugar, and toss to evenly combine. Add the rhubarb and toss to coat in the vanilla sugar. Transfer the rhubarb and vanilla bean to an ovenproof dish just large enough to arrange the rhubarb in a single layer. Sprinkle with any remaining vanilla sugar left in the bowl. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, give the dish a shake and bake for a further 5-10 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender when tested with a skewer. Remove from the oven and set aside while baking the rice pudding.
2. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C. Combine the rice, milk, coconut milk and caster sugar in a bowl. Stir with a fork until well combined. Transfer to a 1-litre (4-cup) ovenproof dish and dot with the butter. Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 1 hour–1 hour 10 minutes, whisking occasionally with a fork so the rice cooks evenly, or until the rice is just tender and the pudding is the consistency of a wet risotto.
3. Serve the warm rice pudding immediately, topped with the rhubarb. Drizzle with rhubarb syrup and sprinkle with the coconut, if desired.

Prep 20min (+25min cooling time)Bake 30minMakes 8 serves

Hailing from the 70s and reaching peak popularity in the 90s, sticky toffee pudding now sits alongside the likes of lemon delicious, rice pudding and chocolate fondants as a classic. Sweet, sticky and completely addictive, it is always a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 18 x 28cm shallow cake tin with melted butter and line the base and two long sides with one piece of baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the sides.
2. Place the dates and water in a small saucepan, bring to the boil over medium heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until pulpy. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda and then set aside for 20 minutes or until cooled to room temperature.
3. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Use a large metal spoon or spatula to fold in the cooled date mixture and then the flour until just combined.
4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.
5. Meanwhile, to make the toffee sauce, put the butter, sugar and cream in a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer for 3 minutes.
6. Remove the pudding from the oven and pour a quarter of the hot toffee sauce over. Set aside for 5 minutes. Remove the warm pudding from the tin, cut into portions and serve drizzled with the remaining warm toffee sauce and accompanied by cream or ice-cream.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Comfort Puddings. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.