Apr 03, 2015

It's that time of the year where hot cross buns are plentiful and chocolate becomes an additional meal in our day! The team at New Horizons would like to wish you all a happy, safe and relaxing Easter long weekend. To assist with those extra calories this break, check out this tasty hot cross buns recipe from Taste. We're sure it'll be a hit with family and friends this weekend! Ingredients: 

4 cups plain flour 2 x 7g sachets dried yeast 1/4 cup caster sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice Pinch of salt 1 1/2 cups currants 40g butter 300ml milk 2 eggs, lightly beaten Flour paste: 1/2 cup plain flour 4 to 5 tablespoons water Glaze: 1/3 cup water 2 tablespoons caster sugar Butter, to serve Select all ingredients

Steps:

1. Combine flour, yeast, sugar, mixed spice, salt and currants in a large bowl. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add milk. Heat for 1 minute, or until lukewarm. Add warm milk mixture and eggs to currant mixture. Use a flat-bladed knife to mix until dough almost comes together. Use clean hands to finish mixing to form a soft dough.
2. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes, or until dough is smooth. Place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until dough doubles in size.
3. Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Punch dough down to its original size. Knead for 30 seconds on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Divide into 12 even portions. Shape each portion into a ball. Place balls onto lined tray, about 1cm apart. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 30 minutes, or until buns double in size. Preheat oven to 190°C or 170°C fan-force.
4. Make flour paste: Mix flour and water together in a small bowl until smooth, adding a little more water if paste is too thick. Spoon into a small snap-lock bag. Snip off 1 corner of bag. Pipe flour paste over tops of buns to form crosses. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until buns are cooked through.
5. Make glaze: Place water and sugar into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to theboil. Boil for 3-4 minutes. Brush warm glaze over warm hot cross buns. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy, and happy Easter!