Classic hot cross buns

Ingredients

• 300g Doves Farm Organic Strong White Bread Flour
• 1 tsp Doves Farm Quick Yeast
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 25g butter, melted
• 150g milk
• 1 egg
• 50g currants
• 50g mixed peel, chopped

For the glaze

• 50g Doves Farm Organic Plain White Flour
• 3 tbsp water
• 3 tbsp apricot jam

Method

1. Put the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and mixed spice into a bowl and mix together.

2. Melt the butter then add the milk and egg and beat together. Stir this into the flour and mix into a sticky dough.

3. Knead the dough in the bowl for 100 presses, if possible without adding flour. The dough will be sticky at first then become smooth and pliable.

4. Cover with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place to double in size (about 2 hours).

5. Line a large baking tray with parchment.

6. Add the currants and mixed peel to the dough and knead until they are well combined.

7. Divide the dough into 10 pieces, roll each into a ball and place it on a parchment lined oven tray.

To glaze the hot cross buns

1. Put the plain flour into a bowl and add just enough water to make a very thick paste.

2. Using a paintbrush, dip it into the paste and paint a cross on each bun.

3. Leave the buns to rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.

4. Re-paint the paste cross and leave the buns to rise for a further 15 minutes.

5. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, 400°F, gas 6.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

7. Gently heat the apricot jam, mashing any lumps, and brush it over the buns as they come out of the oven.

Doves Farm products are available online at dovesfarm.co.uk, Ocado, all major retailers, traditional wholesalers, food service, independent health food stores and farm shops.

Visit our Easter baking page for more delicious buns, cakes and biscuits