Hot Cross Bun Recipe
Hot Cross Buns, a spiced, sweet bun usually made with fruit and marked with a cross on the top are a staple at Easter, traditionally eaten on Good Friday.
Our Head Pastry Chef Jacqui Francis has shared her hot cross bun recipe ahead of Easter weekend, so why not give it a go, the smell of freshly baked bread is worth it alone!
Serves: 12
Cooking time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
FOR THE BUNS
1 tbsp of dried yeast, active
1 tsp sugar
125ml of water, warm
350g of strong white flour
100g of strong wholemeal flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp mixed spice
50g of caster sugar
75g of sultanas
75g of dried apricots, chopped
75g of mixed peel
125ml of milk, warm
50g of butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
PIPING PASTE
4 tbsp of flour, white but unbleached
1 tbsp of caster sugar
2 tbsp of water, cold
GLAZES
1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp milk to make an egg wash
2 tbsp of sugar, 2tbsp water
Method:
1. To begin, combine the dried yeast and sugar in a bowl, then whisk in the warm water. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for approximately 10-15 minutes, until frothy
2. Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, then mix in salt, sugar, spice and fruits
3. Create a well in the middle of the ingredients and use your hands to mix in the frothy yeast mixture. Add the milk, butter and egg, then mix well to form a sticky dough
4. Scatter a little flour over a work surface and place the dough on top. Knead with your hands for 5 minutes or so, until smooth
5. Grease a bowl with a little oil and add the ball of dough. Top the bowl with cling film and allow to prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size
6. Lightly dust a work surface with flour and turn out the dough. Knead gently, then roll into a long sausage-shape. Split into 12 even pieces, using scales for accuracy. Roll each piece of dough into a ball
7. Arrange the balls on a lined baking tray, spacing out so they are close but not touching. Set aside to until doubled in size for 45 minutes in a warm place
8. Meanwhile, make the piping paste and preheat the oven to 220°C
9. For the paste, simply mix together the water, flour and sugar until smooth. Add to a piping bag with a thin, plain nozzle
9. To make the egg wash, beat together the milk and egg yolk
10. When the buns have finished proving, use a blunt knife to make a cross-shaped indentation on each one. Use a pastry brush to coat with egg wash, then pipe the crosses into the indentations
11. Bake the buns for 20 minutes, until nicely golden and sound hollow when tapped
12. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Add the sugar and water to a pan and dissolve over a low heat. As soon as the buns are ready, remove from the oven and brush over the glaze. Allow to cool on a wire rack before pulling apart and serving
