Bread pudding with sour cherries and chocolate

Method

1. Rub butter on the inside of an 8 by 10 inch ovenproof dish. Set aside.

2. Whisk the eggs and sugar together and set aside.

3. Pour the milk, cream and vanilla into a heavy-based saucepan and bring to 'shivering' over a low heat, just before it boils. Set aside for two or three minutes, then whisk it into the egg mixture. Pour everything back into the saucepan and whisk continually as you heat it up and it thickens slightly. Stir in the orange zest.

4. Butter all of the bread slices on each side and cut each slice into four. Place a layer of bread into the dish, sprinkle with cherries and chocolate, repeat. Pour three quarters of the custard mix over the layered bread. Add the final layer of bread and pour the remaining custard over it. Set aside to allow the bread to soak up the custard.

5. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Sprinkle a little extra sugar over the top of the pudding if you wish. Bake for about 35 minutes until golden and bubbling.

6. Serve warm.