Brûléed crumpets, blackberries & cream

Preheat the grill to high. Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla bean paste and 2 tbsp icing sugar together in a shallow bowl. Add the crumpets and soak for 4 minutes, turning halfway. Meanwhile, put the remaining 2 tbsp icing sugar and the blackberries in a small saucepan, stir and cook over a medium heat until heated through and syrupy (about 5 minutes).

Melt the butter in a non-stick frying pan and fry the crumpets for 2 minutes on each side over a medium heat, then transfer to a baking tray. Sprinkle ½ the demerara sugar on each crumpet and spread out in an even layer. Grill on the highest shelf of the oven for 1-2 minutes until the sugar is melted and bubbling. Leave to stand for 1 minute to let the sugar harden into a crispy crust, then serve with the blackberries and cream.