Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns

The smell of spicy buns baking on Good Friday morning is just so tempting. These buns are sticky and delicious.

This recipe can be made in the bread maker or by hand.

Ingredients

400 ml water

2 tablespoons oil

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons brown sugar

4 cups high grade flour

3 tablespoons milk powder

1 tablespoon mixed spice

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

8 teaspoons sure bake yeast

1 cup sultanas

For the crosses

2 tablespoons water

1/4 cup plain flour (don't use high grade it will be too sticky)

For the glaze

1/2 cup icing sugar

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons water

Bread maker method

Place everything except the sultanas in the bread maker. Put on the dough setting.  Add the sultanas at the beep.

Hand method

Place everything in a large bowl.  Mix into a ball of dough.  Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic.  Place back in the bowl covered with lightly oiled glad wrap and put in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size.  Turn out onto a floured surface and knead again.

To shape the dough

When the bread maker finishes or once the dough has been knocked down by hand - divide dough into 18 pieces, shape into rounds and place close together on a lightly greased baking tray.

Cover loosely with lightly oiled glad wrap and leave to stand in a warm area for approx 20 minutes or until buns have doubled in size.

Blend cross ingredients to a smooth paste (add more water if needed) put in a piping bag with a small nozzle - pipe crosses on the buns

Bake in a preheated oven at 190C for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown

Brush with glaze while still hot from the oven

Yummy!