Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Peel, core, and slice the cooking and eating apples thinly, aiming for uniform shapes.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Gradually stir in the caster sugar, lemon rind, and plain flour to create a smooth paste. Slowly whisk in the whole milk and cook for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste. Pour a small amount of the warm custard into the egg mixture, stirring continuously. Once combined, add this back into the saucepan with the custard and stir constantly for another 2-3 minutes.

Grease a baking dish lightly with butter. Layer half of the apple slices in the dish and half of the custard mixture over them. Repeat with remaining apples and custard.

Sprinkle a generous layer of sugar over the top. Place the baking dish under the broiler for about 3-5 minutes, until the sugar melts and the top is golden and crispy.

Let the Malvern Pudding cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.