Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Hot Cross Buns

I was home alone a couple of Sundays ago and I decided the best way to spend the day was baking. With Easter getting closer and hot cross buns appearing everywhere I thought I'd better take a stab! I remember cooking these with little Claudy J a few years back and it was so much fun. I don't actually eat hot cross buns but my family love them so we ended up with some for now and some in the freezer for later.


Bit of an explosion on the end there but I'm told it still tasted good!

THE RECIPE
Whisk 2x8g sachets dried yeast, 1 1/4 cups warm milk and 1/4 cup caster sugar in a medium sized bowl until the sugar dissolves and then set aside for 10 minutes. In a large bowl, sift 4 cups plain flour, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp mixed spice and 1 tsp salt. Use your fingertips to rub in 60g butter until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Into this mix add 1 cup sultanas, 1 cup dried cranberries, 2 eggs and the yeast mix and stir to combine. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for five minutes. Place the kneaded dough into a large greased bowl, cover and leave in a warm spot for 3/4 of an hour.

Before...

...after!
Give the dough a good punch and then knead again until smooth. Shape into 12 balls and place side by side into a greased baking tray like this...


Set the buns aside for 1/4 of an hour. Preheat the oven to 200c. Combine 1/4 cup SR flour and 1/4 cup water, place the mix in a freezer or snaplock bag, snip off the corner and pipe crosses on.


Bake for 10 minutes, reduce the oven to 180c and bake for a further 15 minutes. Brush the buns while they're still warm with warm and sieved apricot jam.

Tah dah!

3 comments:

  1. Yummo!! I adore Hot Cross Buns, and they look amazing! I may just have to set aside an extra ten hours of working out in the next few days so I can make a batch of these delicious looking buns and devour them all!! :D

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  2. Yum! I think I might have to poach this recipe and try some for myself! I LOVE hot cross buns. They make me so excited that easter is in the air!

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  3. Thanks girls! It's a shame I don't eat them by the sounds of that but they were fun to make :) Look forward to seeing photos when you make yours!

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