cookery school

Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

450g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1tsp salt
1/2 tep ground cinnamon
1 1/2tsp mixed spice
50g butter
75g currants
50g mixed peel, chopped
15g fresh yeast
100ml warm water
100ml warm milk
1 egg, beaten

For the decoration

100g plain flour mixed with 3 tbsp water to make a dough
1 egg, beaten
2tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp granulated sugar

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins

Method

1 Sift the flour, salt, cinnamon and mixed spice into a large bowl for electronic mixer with a dough hook and rub butter in

2 Stir in currants, mixed peel and yeast. Make a well in the centre and pour in water, milk and beaten egg. Mix together to form a sticky dough, and knead for 8-10 mins.

3 Leave dough, covered with a damp tea towl in a bowl in a warm place to rest for 1 hour.

4 Knock back dough by pressing the air out of it and divide into 12 equal pieces. Place onto a large greased baking tray and leave again to rise for approx 30-40 mins.
Pre - heat the oven to 200C/gas 6

5 Whilst the buns are rising, roll out the pastry flour dough thinly and cut out 24 strips for the decoration.

6 Brush the risen buns with beaten egg and lay two of the stips across the top to form a cross.Brush with egg and place in oven for approx 18-20 mins

7 While buns are cooking heat the orange gently untill all the sugar has disolved.

8 As soon as the buns are out of the oven, brush with the glaze and eat straight away!