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Positively Festive Hot Cross Buns

Biblically Accurate Hot Cross Buns

A bready alternative to the usual chocolate-based Easter snackery
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Prep Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes
Course Baking
Cuisine British
Servings 12 Buns
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Crosses

For the Glaze

Instructions
 

  • Find yourself a big old mixing bowl, and add 500g of White Bread Flour, 10g of Instant Dry Yeast, 120g of Caster Sugar, 6g of Salt, 20g of Grated Orange Peel, 6g of Cinnamon powder, and 6g of Allspice Powder and give the whole thing a quick mix
  • Next, heat 50g of Butter in a small saucepan until it has completely melted and is bubbling away. Then pour in 225g of Milk and 30g of Water, and immediately turn off the heat
  • Check the temperature of the Milk and Butter broth, it should neither be hot or cold to the touch, then when satisfied pour it in with the flour mix, along with 100g of beaten Egg
  • Using your preferred stirring implement, mix the ingredients together until fully combined. Then, turn the whole lot out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead solidly for around 10 minutes. Alternatively, use a hi-tech kneading machine to do the work for you!
  • Once kneaded, return the dough ball to the mixing bowl, run a lightly oiled finger around the rim (this will help create a seal) and cover the bowl with plastic wrap
  • Leave the bowl somewhere relatively warm until it has doubled in size. Depending on your climate, ambient temperature and elevation, this can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours!
    Hot Cross Buns
  • When it has doubled in size, return the dough to your work surface, knock out all the air, and knead in 200g of Sultanas
  • Once sufficiently distributed, roll the dough into a long sausage shape, and chop it into 12 fairly even pieces. Then, take each piece and roll it between your two hands until it vaguely resembles a sphere, then pinch the underside to create a tight ball shape
    Hot Cross Buns
  • Next, generously line a designated oven tray with baking paper and place the dough balls on it leaving around 1cm between each one
  • Cover the tray with plastic wrap, and again leave the dough somewhere warm to rise. This time, until they have increased in size by around 80%
  • Once almost risen, pre-heat the oven to 180°C (350°F, Fan 160°C, Gas Mark 4)
  • Now, combine 75g of All Purpose Flour with 75g of water, and mix into a thick paste. Then transfer to a piping bag, and do your best to pipe crosses on top of the buns
    Hot Cross Buns
  • When the oven has reached the required temperature, bake the Hot Cross Buns for 25-30 minutes, until they are a deep brown colour, while the crosses remain pale in comparison
  • Once cooked, and while they are still relatively hot, place 50g of Apricot Jam and 25g of Water in a small saucepan, and heat until the jam has completely dissolved and the whole thing starts bubbling. Then, using a pastry brush, carefully distribute the jam mix over all of the buns
  • Move the buns to a wire rack and leave to cool a little (around 10 minutes). Then distribute them to the hungry masses

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal
Keyword Bread, Buns, Vegetarian
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