Easter - Orange and Marmalade Hot Cross buns...

Happy Easter my fabulous readers! Easter is a very celebrated day in my household not only on this day, Christian Easter Sunday but also in May for Greek Orthodox Easter.

Today however we will celebrate Christian Easter, which is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And for my little man it means the Easter bunny and LOTS of chocolate he he...

Last year I celebrated by baking a delicious Easter Loaf but this year I thought id stick to something more traditional but still giving it my own twist, Orange and Marmalade Hotcross buns are based on a traditional recipe but have added orange zest and a glaze of marmalade and honey which gives them a lovely citrus flavour with a bitter sweet glaze.

Ingredients

for buns
625g strong white flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp mixed spice
50g cold butter, cubed
85g sugar
zest of 1 large orange
1 1/2 tsp fast action yeast
1 egg, beaten
275ml room temp milk
125g mixed dried fruit.

for glaze
1 tsp marmalade
1tsp honey
heated slightly

for cross
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp water

Method

1. For the buns, sieve the flour, salt and ground mixed spice into a large mixing bowl, then rub in the butter using your fingertips. Make a well in the centre of the mixture, then add the sugar and orange zest and yeast.

2. Add the beaten egg to the flour with the milk. Mix together to a form a soft dough.

3. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Carefully work the mixed dried fruit into the dough until well combined. Knead lightly for 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

4. Butter a large mixing bowl then shape the dough into a ball and place it into the prepared bowl. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside in a warm place for one hour to prove.

5. After an hour turn out the proved dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knock back the dough. Shape it into a ball again and return it to the bowl, then cover again with the tea towel and set aside for a further 30 minutes to rise. I didn't say this was a quick process ;)

6. After the 30 min turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten slightly into a bun shape using the palms of your hands. Cover the buns again with the tea towel and set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes. Mine were slightly irregular as I had little hands helping...

7. Grease a baking tray with butter and transfer the buns to the tray. I used a large cheesecake tin to get the round shape. Wrap the tray with the buns on it loosely in greaseproof paper, then place inside a large polythene bag. Tie the end of the bag tightly so that no air can get in and set aside in a warm place for a further 40 minutes to rise and treat yourself to a tea or coffee while you wait...again!

8. Preheat the oven to 240C.

9. For the cross, mix the in flour into to a smooth paste with 2 tablespoons of cold water.

10. When the buns have risen, remove the polythene bag and the greaseproof paper. Spoon the flour mixture into a piping bag and pipe a cross on each bun.

11. Put the buns into the oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. As soon as you remove the buns from the oven, brush them with the heated marmalade and honey mixture, then set aside to cool on a wire rack.

Serve as they are or toasted with a good dollop of softened butter.

These are super tasty and are a great treat on this special day!

recipe - my own

syns - 10+ per serving