Thursday, April 13, 2006

Hot Cross Buns

It's that time again and it's always a most enjoyable experience and this time is no exception. Alicat & Sara's asked us to prepare something involving Easter Breakfast and/or Brunch for their latest Weekend Cookbook Challenge.

I had intended to make the traditional Colomba di Pasqua but I was unable to find any of the proper moulds so I decided to take a leaf from Paalo's English tradition and make the ubiquitous Hot Cross Buns.

Hot Cross Buns are typically eaten on Good Friday (though we have them toasted for breakfast on Easter Sunday), so there's still time to whip up a batch if you are so inclined.

The recipe I'm using comes from "Modern Classics 2" by Donna Hay, though I have made some modifications to the recipe and some of the techniques.

I do have to confess that I dislike mixed peel with a passion so there is none in the batch that I made though it's quantity is listed in the recipe.

1-DSC_3759.jpg


Hot Cross Buns

1 tablespoon dry yeast
½ cup caster sugar
1½ cups lukewarm milk
4¼ cups plain flour, sifted
2 teaspoons mixed spice
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
50g melted butter
1 egg
1½ cups sultanas
1/3 cup mixed peel (extremely optional)

Paste for crosses:
Made from 3 parts flour: 2 parts water

Glaze:
Made from 2 parts sugar: 1 part water


Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the caster sugar and all of the milk in a bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes to make sure the yeast is activating.

1-DSC_3722.jpg

Sift the flour with the mixed spice and cinnamon. Add this to the yeast mixture along with the butter, remaining sugar, egg and sultanas (and mixed peel if using) - using the dough hook of the mixer and a low speed, mix until a sticky amalgamated dough forms.

Take it out and place on a very lightly flour dusted bench and knead for about 5 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth.

1-DSC_3729.jpg

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for an hour or until it's doubled in size.

1-DSC_3730.jpg


1-DSC_3732.jpg

When doubled in size, place the dough onto the bench and divide into 12 (either by eye or use scales). Roll each portion into a ball and place in a rectangular ovenproof tray, lined with baking paper (this tray is 19 x 30cm). You want a snug fit to encourage the correct shape to form.

1-DSC_3735.jpg

Cover with a towel or loosely placed plastic wrap and put in a warm place to rise again around 30 minutes to an hour. Once risen you can pipe the crosses over the top.

Making the paste for the crosses. The original recipe produces enough paste to pipe hundreds of crosses so I've listed it as a ratio. Mix together 3 tablespoons of plain flour with 2 tablespoons of water until it forms a sticky paste. Place in a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle and starting from the edge of one bun, pipe a straight line along the centre. Repeat this four times on the horizontal and then four times on the vertical. There's no need to be too precious with the piping as it is quite a sticky and difficult paste to work with. Other recipes will have you forming a drier paste and rolling out cross shapes but I find that they are too hard and are usually pulled off rather than eaten.

1-DSC_3742.jpg

Once piped, this is placed in a preheated 180°C/350°F oven for 25-35 minutes (once again time is a variant depending on your oven type). You want the buns to be golden brown and well risen.

*Warning: a delightful scent will fill your home causing a sudden increase in appetite

1-DSC_3752.jpg

The final part is the glaze. The original recipe calls for one that involves gelatine and seems a tad convoluted so I've chosen to use the equally effective but simpler, sugar syrup. In a small pan place two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of water and heat until the sugar dissolves and the liquid thickens. Brush this hot syrup generously over the tops of the hot buns.

1-DSC_3760.jpg

Either eat them still warm from the oven or toasted with butter.

1-DSC_3769.jpg

20 comments

  1. wow wow wow!! Those look beyond amazing. :D Thank you so much, once again, for participating! We appreciate you so much :D :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hot cross buns! What memories... Your photos are really great, I have to say! Don't know how you do it. BTW, does one win anything in the Weekend Cookbook Challenge?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Ali - it's such a great event I can't miss it!

    Thanks Susan - there's no prize or anything, it's just a whole lot of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Déja vu !

    I just sat down to check the food blogs while my Hot Cross Buns baked in the oven and I find your post for Hot Cross Buns. I used a recipe from The Complete Book of Baking, Landsdown Press, 1984.

    I hope mine come out as tasty looking as yours.

    Dave

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Dave - Thanks for your comments - hot cross buns are one of those yummy specialities of the season.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Haalo!

    I just found your blog through technorati and the WCC entry.

    These buns look incredible! Well done!

    I'm glad I found your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Ivonne

    Thank you so much for your comments!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Haalo, the hot cross bun recipe looks divine, I'm gonna be making them for Easter. Thank for this delicious site. God Bless You. Melanie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Melanie - I hope you enjoy making these for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. thank god I found your blog, I was looking for the recipe of my youth, it appears yours has all the right stuff - even the peel (which I don't mind) Yay!

    was horrified with icing crosses and other weird ingredients. gues that is the australian in me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Anon - I do hope you enjoy making these, I haven't been able to find a better recipe than this one - it works marvellously.

    ReplyDelete
  12. oh these are so getting made for good friday!! thanks a tonne for the recipe

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hope you enjoy them Arundati!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Haalo,
    loved your recipe, here is my adaptation from your blog
    http://saffrontrail.blogspot.com/2008/03/eggless-hot-cross-buns.html

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks Nandita - that's a great adaptation, very clever use of flaxseed to replace egg. They look great too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey Haalo, I just made these hot cross buns last night and they were splendiferous!!! Looked just like yours and tasted absolutely deliciouslydelectable!! Thanks again for another fab recipe.

    Deb
    whitecrow

    ReplyDelete
  17. Have been lurking for a long time, and will use this occasion to come out of hiding.

    I've baked several of your recipes before, and used this one for an afternoon tea on Good Friday.

    Very minor changes - lemon and orange zest for the mixed peel (am also not a fan), and dried apricots as the only fruit (a picky guest.)

    The result was wonderful straight from the oven, and the leftovers have been great for breakfast toasted.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  18. dear Haalo, i made them on thursday...mine is whole wheat and posted on my blog just now...check it when you have the time

    http://arundati.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks Deb - that is fantastic news!

    Welcome Lauren and thank you - I'm very happy to hear these buns have worked so well. They are such a lovely thing to have on Good Friday and even more so when they are home made.

    Thanks Arundati - they look great, well done!

    ReplyDelete

© Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once | All rights reserved.
BLOG TEMPLATE HANDCRAFTED BY pipdig