Žemlovka (bread and apple pudding)

Žemlovka — a Czech bread-and-apple pudding layered with cinnamon and baked custard-soft; a thrifty, nostalgic vegetarian dessert.

Ingredients

• bread rolls6 pcs
• apples4 pcs
• milk300 ml
• eggs2 pcs
• cinnamon1 tsp
• sugar3 tbsp

Method

1. Soak the bread rolls. Slice the rolls into rounds roughly 1 cm thick and lay them in a wide dish. Pour the milk over them and leave to soak for 5–10 minutes until the slices are soft and have absorbed most of the liquid but still hold their shape.
2. Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly — aim for 3–4 mm slices so they cook through evenly. Toss them with the cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of the sugar.
3. Make the custard mixture. Beat the eggs with the remaining tablespoon of sugar until combined. Pour in any milk left in the soaking dish and beat briefly to blend.
4. Layer the dish. Butter a medium baking dish (roughly 20×25 cm). Arrange a layer of soaked bread on the base, then spread half the apple mixture over it. Repeat with another layer of bread, then the remaining apples, finishing with a final layer of bread on top.
5. Add custard and rest. Pour the egg-and-milk mixture evenly over the assembled layers, pressing the top bread slices down gently so they absorb the custard. Leave to stand for 5 minutes while you heat the oven to 180 °C (fan 160 °C).
6. Bake until golden. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top is deep golden and the pudding feels set when you press the centre lightly — it should not wobble. A skewer inserted in the middle should come out clean rather than wet.
7. Rest and serve. Leave the žemlovka to rest in the dish for 5 minutes before cutting; this helps it hold its layers when you portion it. Serve warm, dusted with a little extra cinnamon if you like.

Safety & hygiene Important

• Eggs fully cooked. The custard contains raw egg — ensure the pudding is baked until fully set and the internal temperature reaches at least 74 °C before serving, particularly if cooking for young children, the elderly, or pregnant guests.