Hot Cross Bun Recipe

by Cassie
(Wellington, New Zealand)

Our family has a special Hot Cross Bun Recipe that came from my Uncle who is a Pastry Chef.

I promise you when you try these Hot Cross Buns you won't want any store bought ones!

There are some secret ingredients to this Hot Cross Bun Recipe, that I am now letting you in on. (I hope he never spots this post!)

Overnight soak 3/4 cup each currants and sultanas
and 1/4 cup of mixed peel, in half cup of Brandy
(I told you this was a special Hot Cross Bun Recipe!)

Heat 1 cup of Milk and stir in 1 tsp sugar and 1 Tablespoon of butter. Let it cool until lukewarm then sprinkle over 2 tsp of yeast granules and mix it in. Put it in a warm place until frothy - usually about 15 minutes.

Combine 4 cups of flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp mixed spice, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cloves. Add 3 more teaspoons of sugar and 3/4 cup roughly chopped very good quality cooking chocolate.
(Now do you believe this is the best ever Hot Cross Bun Recipe?)

Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and the fruit mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.

Place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until double in size.

This is the part the kids love the most - punch down the dough mix, and and knead lightly for a few minutes. Don't let the kids knead for long or they will be tough.

Divide into portions and place on baking paper, leaving about 2 cm between. Cover and leave in a warm place again until double in size. We usually get about 20 smallish Hot Cross Buns out of this recipe. We actually make ours round, not square like shop bought hot cross buns. Buns are meant to be round!

Just before putting them in a hot oven 200 degrees Celsius, pipe on the white crosses using a mixture of 1/2 cup of flour and 6 Tablespoons of water. I just use a plastic zip lock bag with the corner cut off.

The Hot Cross Buns take about 20 minutes to cook and then when they are still warm glaze them with warmed marmalade that has been sieved.

This will be the most luscious Hot Cross Bun Recipe you have ever tried! I bet you make two batches!

And PLEASE don't serve them with margarine! Only the best butter will do for these Hot Cross Buns - or even make some chocolate spread!

I'm sorry I don't have a photo to include, I'll try to remember to take one when we make them this year.