HOT CROSS BUNS
Recipe from the Downton Abbey series
If you are a fan of the famous English series Downton Abbey, this recipe should be interesting to you. On my last visit to England I came across a recipe book from the movie and this is the first one I cooked at home. With a cup of black tea with milk, garnished with several HOT CROSS BUNS you can have a great English breakfast.
Ingredients for 12 HOT CROSS BUNS:
- 3½ – 4 cups white flour (plus extra for kneading)
- 50 g (¼ cup) of caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ginger
- generous pinch of salt
- 60 g butter
- 300 ml of milk
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
- 90 g (½ cup) of dried blueberries
- 90 g (½ cup) candied citrus peel or raisins
Preparation:
Mix together flour, the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
In another saucepan, combine the butter and milk and heat until the butter melts. Cool to 38ºC and then add the yeast. Let stand for about 5 minutes until the yeast is softened. Then add the eggs and the citrus zests.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured board until smooth, soft and elastic for about 20 minutes, adding about half cup of flour. Put it in a large bowl, cover and store warm for about 1½ hours or until doubled in size.
Add the dried fruits and the candied citrus zests. Knead gently so that the fruits are evenly distributed.
Cover and let the dough rest for another 10 minutes, then divide it into 12 equal portions and shape each shape into a ball. Arrange them on a prepared baking sheet with a space between them and allow them to warm again until puffy. Using a very sharp knife, slash a cross in the top of each raised bun and bake until golden for about 15 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature with the addition of butter.
