Hot Cross Buns Recipe

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As promised my attempt at Hot Cross Buns. The recipe is from GFM – April 07. I think they went well apart from probably the most important part…the crosses. They certainly don’t look as posh as shop brought ones, but they taste better! At first the cross paste was too thick so I thinned it down, then it was too thin and just dribbled off the buns. Next time I’ll make the cross indents deeper in the hope the paste will stay better.

Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Makes 16

Ingredients:

FOR THE DOUGH

  • 175ml/6fl oz milk
  • 50g/2oz butter
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1 clove
  • 2cardamom pods
  • 400g/14oz bread flour
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 7g (1 pkt) easy blend yeast
  • 100g/oz mixed dried fruit
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg beaten with a little milk

FOR THE CROSS ON THE BUN

  • 3 tbsp plain flour
  • ½ tbsp caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp water

FOR THE SUGAR GLAZE

  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp boiling water

Instructions:

1) Heat the milk, butter, zest, clove and cardamom pods in a saucepan until the butter melts, then leave to infuse. Mix flour, sugar, yeast, dried fruit and spices. When the milk has reached body temperature, take ourt clove and cardamom pods and beat in egg. Pour this liquid into the flour mix.

2) Knead the dough until it is silky and elastic. Add a little more warm milk if it is too dry. Form into a ball and place in a butter bowl covered in cling film and leave to prove overnight in the fridge.

3) Take the dough out of the fridge and let it come to room temp. Knead dough again until it is smooth and elastic. Divide into 16 balls (each should be about the size of a ping pong ball)

4) Sit the buns on a lined baking sheet close together, but not touching. Lightly score a cross on the top of each bun. Cover with a tea towel and prove for another 45 min.

5) Heat oven to 220oc (200oc fan). Brush buns with egg wash, then mix flour, sugar and water together to make a thick smooth paste. Using a teaspoon dribble a cross into the indents. Bake for 15-20 min.

6) When the hot cross buns come out of the oven mix sugar and boiling water and brush over buns.

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