Hot Cross Buns

The dry ingredients

I use my usual bread recipe to make the buns. For about 18 buns you will need:

700g flour

350g of sultanas

2 packets of yeast

1 tablespoon of sugar

400ml of water

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Cinnamon and spice to taste

Pastry for the crosses

Sometimes I might add an egg but this time I didn’t. Also substituting some of the water for milk means the bun may be softer.

Warm water and oil added to the mixture

Add the yeast, sugar, sultanas and spice to the flour. Stir well and then make a well in the mixture. Add the water and oil and  mixing until you can form a soft ball from the dough. Add more water if it is too dry or flour if the mixture is too wet.

Turn onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes. Put the dough back into the bowl and leave to rise for at least an hour. I left mine for about 6 hours as I went to my son’s football match.

After the dough has risen turn out once again and knead. Cut pieces of the dough into the size you prefer and form into buns.

Form into a ball

Place on grease-proof paper and brush with egg.

Cut out strips of pastry and form crosses on the buns (see Salmon and Prawns in crust for my pastry recipe), http://mummywhatsfordinner.blogspot.it
/2012/02/salmon-and-prawns-in-crust.html

 Brush with egg again and sprinkle with brown sugar.

The risen dough

Knead the dough

Divide into pieces and form into balls

Brush with egg

Make crosses with pasrty

Hot Cross Buns

Bake for about 15 minutes at 200° . The buns are cooked when they make a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom.