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Hot Cross Buns For Easter

Introduction & method

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten at Easter time, specifically on Good Friday. Served warm with a generous dollop of melting butter, they are delicious.

 Hot Cross Buns For Easter Recipe

To make the batter for the hot cross buns


Warm the milk and water together, and melt the butter into it. In a large bowl, mix together all the dry batter ingredients. Add the milk/water/butter mixture and stir to mix well. Beat the egg and stir into the mix. Keep stirring the mixture until it leaves the inside of the bowl clean. Cover with plastic film and leave in a warm place to rise until doubled in size. This may take 3-4 hours because of the density of the dough.

To make the hot cross buns


When the batter has risen, tip it out onto a floured surface. Knead it for a few minutes to knock all the air out of it. Now divide the dough into 8 equal-sized pies. Roll each one into a ball between your hands. With a pastry scraper or palette knife, score a cross on top of each one. Place them on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper or a silicon mat, leaving plenty of space between each one. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise again until doubled in size.

To bake the hot cross buns


Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F). Paint each bun with beaten egg. Mix the flour and water for the cross - be careful not to add too much water - you want a stiff paste otherwise your cross may become a dribble. Pipe 2 lines of this paste at right angles onto each bun to form a cross. Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes - they are done when the bottom sounds hollow when you tap it.

Finish the hot cross buns


Over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the water for the final glaze. Place the baked buns onto a wire rack and, while still hot, paint them with the sugar syrup.

To serve the hot cross buns


Hot cross buns are normally eaten warm. Slice one in half and spread with a generous dollop of butter.


The video above is from the Keef Cooks YouTube channel. Click here to see the video recipe of Hot Cross Buns For Easter on YouTube.

 
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Ingredients & Info


BATTER
 450 grams strong white bread flour
 50 grams caster sugar
 50 grams candied peel
 50 grams butter
 100 grams currants
 1 egg
 75 ml water
 150 ml whole milk
 1 tsp yeast (fresh or active dried)
 1 tsp salt
 1 tsp ground cinnamon
 half a tsp ground nutmeg
FIRST GLAZE
 1 egg
CROSS
 2 tbsp plain white flour
 1-2 tbsp water
FINAL GLAZE
 1 tbsp sugar
 1 tbsp water

UNITS:
Metric
US Customary/Imperial

Makes 8 buns
Prep time: 20 minutes.
Rising time: 5 hours.
Cooking time: 25 minutes.
Total time: 5 hours 45 minutes.