Rhubarb Custard French Toast Recipes

RHUBARB CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Butter six 5 1/2-inch gratin dishes (1 inch deep), and dust with sugar; arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss rhubarb with 1/4 cup sugar, and divide among dishes. Cover each first with parchment and then with foil, and bake until rhubarb is just beginning to release liquid and soften, about 30 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Puree milk, cream, flour, eggs and yolk, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Divide mixture evenly among dishes. Bake, uncovered, until just set, 22 to 24 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes.

FRENCH TOAST CUSTARD

Steps:

• Brush both sides of bread with butter; place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large bowl, beat eggs and yolks. Add milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg; mix well. Pour over the bread slices. Cover and chill overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

RHUBARB CUSTARD BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, for filling, combine sugar and flour in a bowl. Whisk in cream and eggs. Stir in the rhubarb. Pour over crust. Bake at 350° until custard is set, 40-45 minutes. Cool. , For topping, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth; fold in whipped cream. Spread over top. Cover and chill. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

FRENCH RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• Cut the rhubarb into 10.5cm batons, using pieces that are roughly the same width. Put the vanilla pod, sugar, lemon juice and 300ml water (or enough to just cover the rhubarb) in a wide frying pan or shallow casserole set over a low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the rhubarb and simmer for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool in the syrup, preferably overnight, or for at least 1 hr. This way your rhubarb should be perfectly cooked, but still hold its shape.
• To make the pastry, put the flour, almonds, sugar and butter in a food processor. Blitz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. While the motor is running, add the egg yolk and dribble in 1-2 tbsp cold water. Tip onto a work surface and knead briefly to bring the mixture together to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
• While your pastry chills, make the crème patisserie. Heat the milk and reserved vanilla seeds in a pan set over a medium heat until nearly boiling. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and flours together in a large bowl until pale. Continue whisking while you pour the hot milk over the egg mixture. Wipe out the saucepan and strain the liquid back into the pan through a sieve. Set over a medium-low heat and stir continuously until the mixture has a thick custard consistency. Scrape into a clean bowl, cover the surface with cling film to prevent a skin from forming and chill for at least 1 hr or up to 2 days.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge. If it is a little hard, leave it at room temperature to soften for 10 mins or so. Roll out to 1mm thick on a lightly floured surface. Use the pastry to line a 12 x 35cm fluted rectangular tart tin, making sure you press the pastry into the fluted edges (you can use the blunt end of a knife to help you do this). Leave any excess pastry overhanging. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the pastry case from the fridge, line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Blind-bake for 20 mins, then remove the parchment and beans, and continue baking for 8 mins more until pale golden and biscuity. Use a sharp serrated knife to trim off the overhanging pastry to give you a clean edge. Cool in the tin.
• Remove the rhubarb pieces from their syrup and set aside. Return the syrup to the hob and boil until thick and sticky. Leave to cool slightly. To finish the crème patisserie, whisk the cream until it holds soft peaks and fold this into the chilled mixture. This is easier if you start by beating in a little cream and then folding in the remaining.
• Remove the pastry case from the tin and put on a plate. Fill with the crème patisserie and smooth over the surface. Carefully line up the rhubarb down the length of the tart case, trying to fit them in quite snugly. Use a pastry brush to glaze the tart with the rhubarb syrup. Chill for 30 mins before serving. This tart will keep for 3 days in the fridge, however it is best eaten on the day it is made.

COCONUT-CARDAMOM FRENCH TOAST WITH RASPBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Compote
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently combine rhubarb and raspberries in a shallow baking dish that will hold them snugly. Scatter sugar over and add cardamom. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small bowl and set aside for making the French toast. Add vanilla pod to dish. Cover with foil and bake fruit 15 minutes. Carefully remove foil, stir gently, and roast, uncovered, until fruit is beginning to collapse but is still bright pink, about 10 minutes more. Remove baking dish from oven; pluck out cardamom pods and vanilla pod and discard. Let cool (juices will thicken as compote cools). Do ahead: Compote can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.
• Filling
• Bring cream, coconut, sugar, and salt to a boil in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to a paste and pale yellow (sound should turn from bubbling to a faint sizzle and there should be very little liquid remaining), 6-8 minutes. Scrape into a bowl and let cool. Do ahead: Filling can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• French toast and assembly
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°F. Pour sugar evenly into a shallow baking dish large enough to accommodate 4 slices of bread. Using your fingers or a spoon, press pods and seeds into sugar, then scrape in reserved vanilla bean seeds and work into sugar. Add milk. (For the fullest flavor, combine spiced sugar and milk in a heatproof jug or bowl and microwave until steaming, 30-60 seconds. Let sit 5 minutes to infuse, then pour back into dish.) Whisk in eggs, cream, almond extract, rose water, and salt.
• Divide coconut filling among 4 slices of bread (about 3 Tbsp. each). Spread in an even layer, leaving a thin border at edges. Top with a second slice of bread to form sandwiches. Lay sandwiches in custard and let soak 2 minutes. Gently turn over and let sit while you heat the pan.
• Melt enough butter or pour in oil to thinly coat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 2 sandwiches until evenly golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches.
• Bake French toast 5 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to plates. Top with raspberry-rhubarb compote, maple syrup, and other toppings as desired.