Toffee Apple Pain Perdu Recipes

Steps:

• Place the apples in a large bowl, then cover with boiling water (you may have to do this in 2 batches). This will remove the waxy coating and help the caramel to stick. Dry thoroughly and twist off any stalks. Push a wooden skewer or lolly stick into the stalk end of each apple.
• Lay out a sheet of baking parchment and place the apples on this, close to your stovetop. Tip the sugar into a pan along with 100ml water and set over a medium heat. Cook for 5 mins until the sugar dissolves, then stir in the vinegar and syrup. Set a sugar thermometer in the pan and boil to 150C or 'hard crack' stage. If you don't have a thermometer you can test the toffee by pouring a little into a bowl of cold water. It should harden instantly and, when removed, be brittle and easy to break. If you can still squish the toffee, continue to boil it.
• Working quickly and carefully, dip and twist each apple in the hot toffee until covered, let any excess drip away, then place on the baking parchment to harden. You may have to heat the toffee a little if the temperature drops and it starts to feel thick and viscous. Leave the toffee to cool before eating. Can be made up to 2 days in advance, stored in a dry place.

Steps:

• For the creme patissiere: Bring the milk to the boil over medium heat. Whisk egg yolks, sugar and flour. Add a small amount of hot milk, whisk then add the rest of the milk. Return to saucepan and stirring continuously over medium heat until think - 2-4 minutes Stir through the butter and set aside until cool.
• Trim the bread slices into neat squares. Spread the creme patissiere over half the slices and sandwich together. You now have 6 'pain perdu'.
• Place them in a shallow dish. In another bowl whisk together the milk and eggs and pour over the bread. Gently turn over the bread to soak up the milk mix.
• Heat the butter in a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add the bread and fry until golden on each side. Transfer to plate and keep warm.
• Wipe out pan and return to heat, sprinkle sugar over pan and melted and caramelised add the sliced apple and turn to coat well and slightly soften, about 3-5 minutes.
• Serve 1 pain perdu topped with carmalised apple and hazelnut icecream.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients, except the cider, into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (no ice).
• Add ice to the shaker and shake again. Strain into a small wine glass and top with the Breton cider.