Hot Cross Buns with apple and cinnamon

Ingredients

• 4 1/3 cups / 600 grams bread flour
• 1/2 cup / 100 grams caster sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon / 7 grams instant yeast granules
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup / 100 grams butter
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup apple puree
• 1 cup / 150 grams sultanas (or more if you like plenty of sultanas in your buns)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 5 tablespoons water (more or less)
• 1 tablespoons apricot jam
• 2 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix flour, sugar, yeast, cinnamon and mixed spice together in a mixing bowl.

2. 2

   Melt the butter and milk together in the micowave or in a saucepan on the stove until the butter has softened and the milk is warm. Do not boil - it should just be lukewarm

3. 3

   Add the milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Add the egg and the apple puree and mix to combine.

4. 4

   Tip out onto a work surface and knead for about 6 to 8 minutes until the dough is soft and elastic.

5. 5

   Flatten the dough into a rectangle and spread the sultanas on top.

6. 6

   Roll into a sausage shape and then knead gently until the sultanas are well-distibuted.

7. 7

   Return to the mixing bowl, cover with a clean towel and leave in a warm place for about an hour until doubled in size.

8. 8

   Knock down the dough, then divide it into 16 equal pieces.

9. 9

   Form each piece into a ball, flatten slightly and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the buns about 1cm apart, they will come together as they prove, and during baking.

10. 10

    Cover and leave to proof for another hour.

11. 11

    Pre-heat the oven to 190°C /375°F.

12. 12

    --- Make the crosses ---

13. 13

    Mix 2 tablespoons flour with about 4 tablespoons water. Add the additional tablespoon of water if necessary to make a thin paste.

14. 14

    Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a small nozzle. I you don't have a piping bag, use a plastic sandwich bag with one corner snipped off.

15. 15

    Pipe crosses onto the buns.

16. 16

    Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove the tray from the oven.

17. 17

    --- Glaze ---

18. 18

    Mix the jam with water until smooth.

19. 19

    Using a pastry brush, brush the jam over the top of the buns while they are still hot.

20. 20

    Serve plain or split the buns and spread with butter. Alternatively you could toast the split buns (on one side only) under a hot grill before spreading with the butter.