One of the great traditions at Easter is eating Hot Cross Buns, but have you ever tried to make them from scratch? Here is one version of the classic recipe to try to make with the kids. Don’t forget to teach them the “Hot Cross Buns” nursery rhyme too!
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Yield:
Description:
Ingredients:
310 ml warmed milk
1/3 cup caster sugar (if you can't find it in stores, you can crush up regular sugar in a blender until it's very fine)
4 tsps of dried yeast (or 2 x 7g packets)
4 cups plain flour, sifted
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsps ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup of butter, softened
1.5 cups of raisins/sultanas – or to taste
2 eggs
1/3 cup plain flour
60 mls of water
2 tbsps apricot jam, warmed in a pan over low heat and strained.
Directions:
1. Whisk together the sugar, milk and yeast until sugar has dissolved. Cover and set aside for 10 mins or until it becomes frothy.
2. Mix together flour, salt and ground spices. Rub the butter into the mixture until mixed (easiest is to use your fingers). Stir in raisins, egg and frothy yeast mixture.
3. On a lightly floured surface, knead the bread dough for about 5 mins until smooth and easy to pull. Grease another bowl and place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat with grease. Cover with clingwrap and leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size (about 40-45 minutes).
4. When the dough has expanded, remove the clingwrap and punch down the dough. Knead it and divide into 12 round balls.
5. Place the buns into a greased 20 x 30 cm baking tray, cover with clingwrap and leave in a warm place to rise for 15 mins. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
6. Make your crosses on top, by whisking plain flour and water into a paste. Gently spread or pipe "crosses" on the top of the buns and bake at 200 degrees C for 10 mins. Reduce heat to 180 degrees C and bake for a further 15 mins.
Tip: Buns are ready when it sounds hollow when you tap the tops.
7. To make the shiny coating on top, brush with warmed apricot jam while the buns are still warm.
Inspired by this recipe on Citrus and Candy.
While they are cooking, teach your child the "Hot Cross Buns" Nursery Rhyme;
Hot cross buns,
Hot cross buns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If you have no daughters,
If you have no sons,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If your sons don't like them,
They're the only ones,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
I don't tell jokes
and I don't tell puns,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
Get them while they're hot
and eat them by the ton,
One a penny,
Two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
