Bread and Butter Pudding vs Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake)

Both desserts lean on milk, cream, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla, yet they put them to very different work. In Bread and Butter Pudding, these become a custard soaking buttered stale bread layered with raisins, finished with grated nutmeg and baked until golden and puffed, with a slight wobble at the centre, then served warm. Bienenstich splits them between a springy yeasted cake, a honey-butter almond topping baked until caramelized, and a chilled vanilla custard thickened with cornstarch and lightened with whipped cream. The result is warm, spiced, fruit-studded richness on one side and cool, creamy, caramelized nutty sweetness on the other.