Hot Cross Buns

I love hot cross buns and here is my version (without the white cross).

It may be a bit early but just like pancakes, why wait for one special day. These can be eaten all year round. Below is an image of how mine turned out and they are truly delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2oz/50g Caster Sugar, plus 1 level teaspoon
• 1 Level Teaspoon dried yeast
• 1lb/450g Plain Flour
• 1 Level teaspoon salt
• 1 Rounded Teaspoon Mixed Spice
• 3oz/75g Currents
• 2fl oz/50ml Warm Milk
• 1 Egg Beaten
• 2oz/50g Melted butter

For the Glaze:

• 2 Level tbsp Granulated Sugar

How to Make:


Much like making bread you will need to create a yeast mixture first. Add 1 level teaspoon of caster sugar to 5fl oz/150ml of hand hot water, then sprinkle a level teaspoon of dried yeast over the water and leave it to froth up for 10-15 minutes.
While waiting sift the flour, salt, mixed spice into a bowl and then add the 50g of caster sugar and currents. Then make a well in the middle of the mixture and add the yeast mix, the warm milk, beaten egg and melted butter. Mix the contents of the bowl fully until it is well combined and then tip out onto a well floured surface. Knead the mixture for about 6 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with an oiled sheet of cling film and leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until the mixture has doubled in size.
When ready tip the mixture out and knead it back to it's original size. Divide the mixture into 12 pieces by measuring each one to 80g and then creating rounded shapes and placing them onto a lightly oiled baking tin making sure to leave as much space as possible between buns as they will increase in size while proving again for 25 minutes. Once you have left them to prove and they have risen you can place them into a pre-heated oven (220C/425F) for 15 minutes to bake.
They will come out of the oven golden brown, and to get the lovely glaze all you need to do is mix the granulated sugar and 2 tbsp of water in a pan over a low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved use a brush to coat the bums and you will get a very shiny very sticky bun.

Hope you enjoy!

Andy