Spiced Fruity Buns

Total Time: 2 hrs 55 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 750 g flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 (7 g) packets instant yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 cup sultana
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 60 g salted butter
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons water

Recipe

• 1 combine flour, sugar, yeast, sultanas, spices and salt in a large bowl. heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until butter melts. remove from heat and whisk in egg.
• 2 add to dry ingredients then lightly mix. add sultanas and mix to a soft dough.
• 3 turn dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes or until smooth and elastic.
• 4 place the dough in a greased bowl.
• 5 cover with a damp tea towel and prove in a warm place for 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
• 6 punch down the dough in the centre. turn on to a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes or until smooth.
• 7 pre-heat oven to 210°c.
• 8 lightly grease a 25cm x 30cm lamington tray with melted butter.
• 9 divide the dough into 12 equal portions.
• 10 knead each portion into a ball and place in the tray. cover with a damp tea towel and prove for 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size.
• 11 brush the tops of the buns with a little whisked egg. snip a small hole in the corner of the plastic bag and pipe the flour paste to form a cross over each bun.
• 12 bake in a pre-heated oven for 10 minutes. reduce heat to 180°c and bake for 15-20 minutes longer or until buns are cooked through.
• 13 to make glaze, heat the sugar and water. stir until sugar dissolves. simmer uncovered for 30 seconds.
• 14 remove the hot cross buns from the oven and turn onto a wire rack. brush the tops with glaze.
• 15 serve with butter.