Alison Holst's Hot Cross Buns

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

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, e.g. surebake active yeast mixture
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup milk, cold
• 1 cup boiling water
• 50 g butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mixed fruit
• 1 tablespoon mixed spice
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 3 -4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons oil
• water, to taste
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup sugar

Recipe

• 1 measure the yeast mixture, flour, brown sugar and salt into a large bowl. stir to mix and then add the cold milk followed by the boiling water. stir thoroughly to mix.
• 2 leave to stand for 3 minutes. melt the butter and assemble the rest of the ingredients.
• 3 once the 3 minutes is up, stir in the rest of the ingredients except for the flour.
• 4 now add as much flour as need to make a dough just firm enough to turn out on a board and knead. [the original recipe suggests 3 cups. i needed 4.].
• 5 knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until smooth and satiny and it springs back when you press it with a finger.
• 6 oil a large bowl and turn the dough ball in this until it is all coated. cover the mixture with plastic wrap and leave to stand until it doubles it original bulk.
• 7 turn out on a floured board, knead lightly and cut into 30 evenly sized pieces.
• 8 form each piece into a ball and arrange the buns in rows in a dish or pan with at least 1 cm between them. a roasting dish works well and takes about 15 buns.
• 9 preheat the oven to 220°c/425°f and when ready turn the heat down to 200°c/400°f.
• 10 put crosses on the buns.make a paste of the flour and oil and then add enough water to make a dough that can be forced out of an icing bag. pipe the crosses on the buns.
• 11 put the buns in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes until they brown slightly and feel firm. remove from oven and glaze with a hot syrup made by heating sugar and water.
• 12 cool buns on a rack. store in airtight containers when cold.
• 13 if you want to make a smaller quantity, halve the ingredients except for the egg. you may need more flour.