insideKENT Magazine Issue 37 - April 2015 | Page 55

Dessert

HOT CROSS BUN RING with Spiced Honey Butter
The hot cross bun may be traditional Easter fare, but this recipe adds a fun new twist to proceedings.

Ingredients for the buns
• 300ml milk
• Zest 1 orange
• 50g butter (cubed)
• 500g strong white flour (plus 140g for the
crosses, and more for dusting)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 85g golden caster sugar
• 7g dried fast action yeast
• 1 egg
• 100g dried mixed fruit
Ingredients for the spiced honey butter
• 200g salted butter
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 4 tbsp honey

Method
1. Combine the milk and orange zest in a
saucepan and warm. Remove from the
heat before adding the cubed butter and
swirl to mix until melted
2. Mix the flour, cinnamon, sugar, yeast, and
1tsp salt in a bowl. Add the milk, butter
blend and beaten egg and mix (with a
wooden spoon) until the mixture comes
together to form a dough
3. Knead the dough until it is smooth and
bounces back when pressed with a finger.
Cover with cling film in an oiled bowl and
leave to rise for 2 hours. It should double
in size
4. When it has risen, tip the dough onto a
floured surface and knead once more to
remove bubbles. Pour the dried fruit on
top and knead to combine
5. Divide the dough into 11 equal pieces
and place on the biggest baking tray you

have, in a ring. Make sure there is a little
gap between each bun. You then need
to cover them again, and allow to prove
for a further hour
6. Heat your oven to 180°C (160°C,
gas mark 4) and brush the buns with
beaten egg
7. Mix the last of the flour with water to make
a thick paste and, using a piping bag,
pipe crosses over the buns
8. Bake the buns for 25 minutes
9. Whilst the buns are baking, whisk the
butter, cinnamon, ginger, and honey
together
10. Serve the buns in their ring with a pot of
your lovely honey butter in the middle.
They keep for 3 days in a tin (or 3 months
in a freezer), so you can make them in
advance

Drink

WOO WOO!
To accompany a springtime meal like this, you could
have a zesty white wine, or a light lager, but what about
a zingy, fruity cocktail? A woo woo will really hit the
spot.
Ingredients
• 2 parts vodka
• 1 part peach Schnapps
• 4 parts cranberry juice
• Lime (sliced)
Method
Pour all of the ingredients into a jug and mix. That’s it. Serve in high balls
or tumblers with a slice of lime on the side. Delicious!

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