Hot Cross Buns

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons instant yeast, two 7 gram sachets
• 1/3 cup caster sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 4 cups plain flour
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 80 g butter, chopped
• 1 cup sultana
• 1 egg, beaten lightly
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 2 teaspoons caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon gelatin powder
• 1 tablespoon boiling water

Recipe

• 1 mix the yeast with one tablespoon of the sugar and all of the milk in a small bowl. whisk until the yeast is dissolved. cover the bowl and stand in a warm place for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is frothy.
• 2 sift the flour, spices and salt into a large bowl; rub in the butter with your fingertips, until the butter is thoroughly distributed.
• 3 stir in the remaining sugar, fruit, yeast mixture, egg and the water to make a soft dough.
• 4 cover the bowl with oiled plastic wrap and stand in a warm place for about one hour or until mixture is doubled in size.
• 5 turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• 6 divide the dough into 18 portions and roll each into a ball.
• 7 place the balls, almost touching, on a large greased oven tray. stand in a warm place for about 20 minutes or until dough is almost doubled in size.
• 8 preheat the oven to 220°c or 200°c if fan-forced.
• 9 for the flour paste: sift flour and sugar into a small bowl; gradually stir in enough water to make a smooth thick paste. place the flour paste into a resealable plastic bag and snip a tiny piece off one corner. pipe crosses onto the buns.
• 10 bake the buns for about 15 minutes or until they sound hollow when tapped.
• 11 transfer the buns to a wire rack and brush the tops with the glaze.
• 12 for the glaze: combine the glaze ingredients until the sugar and gelatine are dissolved.
• 13 hot cross buns are best eaten the day or next day from baking. can be frozen.