Cranberry Hot Cross Buns

Happy Easter!! Hope you're all having a great few days off. And it goes without saying, enjoying some great food with your family and friends. 

Did you all enjoy some freshly baked, hot out of the oven hot cross buns today? No you say? You bought them already made? Well then, do I have the recipe for you. Its a little less traditional but equally as tasty. Thats the great thing about making your own, you get to choose what goes into them! Plus you get the bonus of fresh bread baking and that lovely smell wafting throughout your house, giving it a homely and inviting smell. 

I do realise they are a little more labour intensive than picking some up from the supermarket, but they are great fun, and something you have to do at least once in your life. 

Hot Cross Buns

50g butter

1 cup of milk

3 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon of ginger

1/4 whole nutmeg grated

1/3 cup of sugar

2 teaspoons of yeast

1 egg

1 cup cranberries 

2 tablespoons of water

1/2 cup flour

Melt the butter in the microwave, then add the milk and place back in the microwave for 30seconds just to warm the milk slightly. 

In a separate bowl, Sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg in, then add the sugar and yeast. Pour in the butter and milk mixture along with the egg. Stir to combine then pour out onto a floured surface and kneed for 10minutes, during this time sprinkle the cranberries in as you kneed.  Alternatively use a freestanding mixture and place a dough hook on it, turn it on slowly then when the mixture has combined, add the cranberries, then turn up the speed for about 5minutes. Then remove from the bowl and kneed for 5 minutes. 

Place into an oiled bowl, cover with cling wrap and leave until the dough has doubled in size. Remove from the bowl and knock the dough back down, place the dough back in the bowl and leave again to double in size. Remove the dough, knock it back down again then form into 9 round balls and place them on a baking tray or into a square cake tin. Leave for 1 hour, during this time, pre heat the oven to 180C. Brush the dough with some egg whites.

To make the cross, combine the flour and water and put the mixture into a pipping bag. Pipe the mixture on and place in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until cooked.