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Hot Cross Buns

Course Dessert, Snacks
Cuisine British
Keyword Baking, easter, fruit buns, hot cross buns, Snacks
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Proving Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Servings 12 Buns

Ingredients

Buns

  • 300 ml Milk Heated Up
  • 50 g Unsalted Butter Melted
  • 500 g Strong Bread Flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 75 g Caster sugar
  • 7 g Fast-Action Yeast
  • 1 Egg
  • 75 g Sultanas
  • 50 g Glaced Cherries Washed and Dried
  • 1 Apple Peeled, Cored and Finely Chopped

Cross

  • 75 g Plain Flour plus extra for dusting
  • 5 tbsp Water may need more

Instructions

  • Heat up the milk in the microwave until it is hot then. Melt your butter then add this to the milk and stir until fully incorporated.
  • Put the strong bread flour, salt, caster sugar and yeast into a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the warm milk and butter mixture, then add the beaten egg.
  • Using a wooden spoon, mix well, then bring everything together with your hands until you have a sticky dough.
  • Tip on to a lightly floured surface and knead by holding the dough with one hand and stretching it with the heal of the other hand, then folding it back on itself.
  • Repeat for 5 mins until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. .
  • Cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hr or until doubled in size and a finger pressed into it leaves a dent.
  • With the dough still in the bowl, tip in the sultanas, glaced cherries and the chopped apple. Knead into the dough, making sure everything is well distributed.
  • Leave to rise for 1 hr more, or until doubled in size, again covered by some well-oiled cling film to stop the dough getting a crust.
  • Divide the dough into 12 even pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball on a lightly floured work surface.
  • Arrange the buns on one or two baking trays lined with parchment, leaving enough space for the dough to expand.
  • Cover (but don’t wrap) with more oiled cling film, or a clean tea towel, then set aside to prove for 1 hr more.
  • Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix 75g plain flour with about 5 tbsp water to make the paste for the cross.*
  • Spoon into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe a line along each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses.
  • Bake for 20 mins on the middle shelf of the oven, until golden brown.

Notes

*Add the water 1 tbsp at a time, so you add just enough for a thick paste.