Carnival Basque Toast (Tostadas de crema de carnaval)

This is a traditional Basque dessert for Carnival and Easter. It is made of a custard but sometimes is made with brioche bread, much like a good French toast. 

Ingredients:

4 cups milk (reserve about half a cup)
5 eggs
8 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon peel

For the coated batter:

1 cup flour
3 whisked eggs
sugar

To fry:

1 cup oil
lemon peel
lime peel
cinnamon powder
sugar

Put the milk to boil with the lemon peel and cinnamon stick. In the meantime, make a mixture  in a bowl with the sugar, cornstarch, eggs, the half cup milk and blend very well.

When the milk starts boiling add the mixture and let it boil for about 5 minutes to make a custard. Do not stop stirring, especially at the bottom of the pan.

Grease a 3-4 inch deep baking sheet, add the custard and let it cool off. Brush the top with oil. Keep it overnight in the refrigerator.

Cut the custard in 3 by 3 inch squares, dusted with flour and coated with egg. Put on a rack to get rid of any excess egg. In a pan put the oil with the lemon and lime peels on high heat. When they start getting wrinkled, remove the peels and add the custard and cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan and let them rest on paper towel to get rid of any excess oil. Then add cinnamon and sugar. Place them on a platter and garnish with berries and whipped cream.