Hot cross buns
Ingredients
- 450g strong white bread flour
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1 tsp salt
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2 tsp mixed spice
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100g caster sugar
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7g sachet easy blend dried yeast
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250g dried mixed fruit
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50g butter
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250ml milk plus 3 tbsp
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1 large British Lion egg, beaten
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50g plain flour
Preparation time: 35 mins, cooking time: 120 mins, serves: 12.
Hot cross buns - a classic Easter recipe you can now enjoy at any time.
Method
- Sift the flour, salt, spice and 50g of the sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in the yeast and fruit. In a small pan, melt the butter, then add the milk and heat until tepid. Stir into the dry ingredients with the egg and mix to form a soft dough.
- Tip the dough out on a floured work surface and knead for 10 mins until smooth and elastic. Divide into 12 equal pieces and shape each into a ball. Place a little way apart on an oiled baking sheet. Cover with oiled clear film and leave to prove in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 19C/Fan 170C/Gas Mark 5. To make the crosses, put the plain flour in a small bowl with 6 tbsp cold water; mix to a smooth paste. Spoon into a piping bag and neatly pipe a cross over each of the buns. Bake for 20-25mins or until golden brown.
- When the buns are nearly ready, heat the remaining sugar and milk with 3 tbsp water in a small pan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil for 1 min. Remove the buns from the oven and brush twice with the glaze. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Serve warm spread with butter.