A perfect hot cross bun recipe, according to Richard Bertinet
Who can resist hot cross buns at Easter? Toasted and then sandwiched with a good slice of butter in the middle that melts slowly - just remember to flip it halfway through the melting so both sides get equally butter-soaked. It's an Easter treat that we love and this hot cross bun recipe means you don't need to rely on the bakery or supermarket having your favourite in stock. Plus, it'll really impress your family.
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You will also need a large baking tray and a piping bag and nozzle
The Bertinet Kitchen can be found at 12 St Andrew's Terrace, Bath, BA1 2QR. Phone: 01225 445531 or visit thebertinetkitchen.com
What does a traditional hot cross bun contain?
The original hot cross bun was called an ‘Alban Bun’, originating in St Alban's, developed by a 14th-century monk at St Alban's Abbey. From 1361, Brother Thomas would distribute these buns to feed the poor on Good Friday. The original recipe remains a guarded secret but it was made with flour, eggs, yeast, currants and grains of paradise or cardamom.
Try the easy hot cross bun recipe
Recipe information
Yield
16 buns
Ingredients
Ingredients
For the egg wash
For the glaze
Preparation
METHOD
Step 1
Blend together the mixed spice, mixed peel and sultanas in a bowl and set to one side. Warm the milk to body temperature; it should feel neither warm nor cold when you dip your finger in.
Step 2
Put the flour in a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips. Stir in the yeast, sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt. Then mix in the eggs and the milk with one hand to form a soft, sticky dough. Mix in the dried fruit mixture then tip on to a work surface and work the dough – slide your fingers underneath then swing the dough upwards and then slap it back down, away from you.
Step 3
Stretch the front of the dough towards you, then lift it back over itself in an arc, still stretching it forwards and sideways and tucking it in around the edges. Keep repeating this sequence. Don’t add flour to the work surface at this stage. The dough will come together after a while and feel elastic. Keep on working until it comes cleanly away from the work surface; this will take about 15 minutes. Now, lightly flour the surface and form the dough into a smooth ball, folding the edges into the centre.
Step 4
Alternatively make the dough in an electric mixer with a dough hook. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm room to rise for 1½-2 hours. It should double in size. When the dough has risen,tip it on to your work surface and divide into 16. Roll each piece into a tight ball and put on a baking tray close together. For the egg wash, lightly beat the egg with a pinch of salt and brush over each bun, keep the rest for later. Put the buns in a warm place for about 1½ hours until risen and neary doubled in size again.
Step 5
Preheat the oven to 220°C, fan 200°C, gas 7. To make the cross paste, sift the flour into a bowl, add a pinch of salt, the oil and 2-3 tablespoons of cold water, a little at a time, to form a paste. Brush the buns with spare egg wash and pipe a cross on top of each bun. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown.
Step 6
Meanwhile, to make the glaze, put the sugar and 50ml of water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and continue to boil for a few minutes until syrupy. Stir in the rum, if using. Brush over the warm buns and leave to cool on a wire rack.
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