Custard Brioche Buns with Bonne Maman Mixed Berry Preserves and Vanilla bean Streusel

BRIOCHE DOUGH

1. Place the lukewarm milk, 15g of the sugar, and the yeast in a medium sized bowl, and stir to combine. Leave for 10-15 minutes, or until foamy.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, place the remaining 85g sugar, flour, salt, and lemon zest, and mix well to combine.
3. Add the milk mixture and the egg to the dry ingredients, and mix on low for 2-3 minutes. Increase the speed of the mixer to medium, and mix for a further 10 minutes. Add the butter a little at a time, waiting until it is incorporated until adding the next piece. Mix for a further 10-15 minutes, until the dough is smooth and soft. If you are finding the dough will not pull away from the bowl, add an extra tablespoon of flour.
4. Flour your hands, remove the dough from the mixing bowl, and quickly shape into a ball. Lightly grease the bowl with butter or baking spray, then place the ball of dough back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.

CUSTARD

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar and corn starch (this helps the corn starch to stay lump free). Add the egg yolks and whisk well to combine.
2. In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, warm the milk, vanilla bean paste, and salt, until just shy of a simmer. Whisking constantly, pour about half of the warm milk mixture onto the egg yolk mixture, then mix briskly to combine. Add back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and place over a low heat.
3. Cook the custard, whisking constantly, until thick. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, mixing until incorporated and lump free. Strain through a mesh sieve into a container, and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard. Place in the fridge to cool completely, ideally overnight.

STREUSEL

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt. Add Vanilla bean paste if using, then add the butter, and rub in with your fingertips until it resembles wet sand. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

ASSEMBLY

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Weigh the dough, and divide into 16 pieces. Cover the pieces you are not working with with a piece of plastic wrap lightly coated in baking spray.
2. Shape each piece of dough into a ball, then, using a cupped hand, roll on the work surface until it forms a nice taut ball. Place back under the plastic to rest for 5 minutes.
3. On a lightly floured surface, working with one piece of dough at a time, flatten into a disc, then roll out into a circle approximately 3 inches (7.5cm) in diameter. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls - you should be able to fit 8 on each baking sheet.
4. Cover each baking sheet with a clean tea towel, and leave to rise for about 45 minutes, until puffy. Preheat the oven to 350°f / 180°c. Arrange two oven racks evenly in the oven.
5. Remove the custard from the fridge and whisk briefly to ensure that it has a cohesive texture, then transfer to a piping bag and snip off the end.
6. Using a measuring cup lightly dusted with flour (I used a ⅓ cup and it was the perfect size), press down in the centre of each circle of dough to create an indentation. Brush each round of dough with egg wash, then pipe a mound of custard into each hole in the buns. I find it easiest to work with one tray at a time, completing the assembly process before moving onto the next to prevent the egg wash drying out.
7. Smooth down the custard slightly using an offset spatula, then top with about 1 tsp of Bonne Maman Mixed Berries Preserves. Sprinkle the edge of each bun with the streusel, making sure to not get it on the filling. Repeat with the second tray of buns.
8. Bake the buns for 20 to 25 minutes, swapping the top and bottom trays over and rotating half way through the baking process, until the buns are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before eating. Best served warm.
9. Store remaining buns in an airtight container. Warm slightly in the microwave before serving to freshen up the bread and warm up the preserves.