Christmas Pudding with Custard Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. butter
• 3 1⁄2 cups fresh white bread crumbs
• 2 cups dried currants
• 1 3⁄4 cups seedless golden raisins
• 1 3⁄4 cups seedless raisins
• 1 1⁄2 cups light brown sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1⁄3 lb. cold beef suet, membranes removed, grated
• 2⁄3 cup stout, such as Guinness
• 1⁄4 cup finely chopped candied lemon peel
• 1⁄4 cup finely chopped candied orange peel
• 1⁄4 cup slivered almonds
• 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 1⁄2 tsp. ground allspice
• 1⁄2 tsp. salt
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 granny smith apple, stemmed, cored, peeled, and coarsely grated
• Juice and finely grated zest of a small orange
• 4 cups milk
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 1⁄4 tbsp. flour
• 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
• 1⁄2 cup brandy, optional