hot cross buns

Every year on Good Friday we enjoy making our own Hot Cross Buns.

My dear friend Sandra (miss you too) requested the recipe so here it is.

It is originally out of a Family Circle Magazine.

Hot Cross Buns

2 t yeast

1 1/3 C warm water

1/4 C sugar (you could use honey)

4 C plain flour

1/4 C full cream milk powder

1 t mixed spice (I also add 1 t cinnamon)

1 C sultanas

1/2 C mixed peel (I use diced dried apricots instead as they are sweeter and add more flavour)

80g butter melted and cooled

2 eggs lightly beaten

1. Mix together yeast water and sugar and wait 10 minutes or until it has bubbled up.

2. Add other ingredients to bowl of electric mixer with dough hook attached

3. Add yeast mixture and mix for 5 minutes on low

4. Cover and set aside until doubled in size (if you are in a hurry or it is cold you can do this in the oven on a very low temp under 50C)

5. Punch dough down give it a quick knead and divide into 16 equal pieces

6. Place in lined pan close together

7. If you wish to put crosses on them now is the time, mix a little flour and water in a small ziplock bag and cut one corner and pipe on (I am not very good at piping but try my best)

8. Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size.

9. Heat oven to 200C 

10. Spray buns with water and place in oven. 

11. Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 180C and bake for 15-20 minutes longer, you can tell if they are cooked if they sound hollow when you tap them.

12. Cool for 5 minutes in tray before removing onto wire rack.

13. Make a glaze out of a little icing sugar and water and a bit of cinnamon (like a really runny icing) brush onto buns while still hot.

14. Serve warm with lashings of butter. 

Leftovers can be cut in half and toasted for breakfast the next day.

If you want something different than the buns you can make an Easter loaf by diving dough in half to make two loaves.

Take one and cut it into 3 equal pieces roll these out and plait to make a plaited loaf, do the same with other piece of dough, brush with egg white and sprinkle on flaked almonds and sugar, cook as for Hot Cross Buns. 

I usually make this as well but I can't find a photo.

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