Andrew's Perfect Scrumptious Gorgeous Buns.

Breadmaker Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients
1 lb (450 g) breadmaker flour reserve 2 oz/50 g for the crosses and a little extra for dusting)
10g breadmaker yeast
2 oz (50 g) dk brown sugar
1 level teaspoon mixed spice
½ level teaspoon cinnamon
½ level teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 level teaspoon salt
5 fl oz (150 ml) milk
1 large egg, beaten
2 oz (50 g) butter, at room temperature
4 oz (110 g) currants
2 oz (50 g) sultanas

For the glaze:

2 level tablespoons granulated sugar


First of all pop the ingredients for the dough, excluding the currants and sultanas into the breadmaker along with 1½-2 fl oz (40-55 ml) water, in the order your manual instructs. Then set it to the ‘dough raisin’ mode (or equivalent setting) and press the start button. When the ‘raisin’ bleep blinks, add the currants etc and then continue to mix until the dough is ready.

After that, turn the dough out on to a lightly floured work surface, knead it briefly, then divide it into 12 round portions and place them on the greased baking sheet, leaving plenty of room around each one. Use a sharp knife to make a cross on the top of each bun. Then cover them with the oiled polythene bag and leave them to rise, which will take about 30 minutes by which time the buns will have almost doubled in size and are ready.

While that’s happening, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 7, 425°F (220°C) and make the crosses. Form a paste with 2 oz/50 g flour and 1½-2 tablespoons water, then roll this out and cut into ¼ inch (5 mm) strips. When the buns have risen, brush the strips with water to make them stick and place them on top of the buns along the indentations you made earlier. Then place the baking sheet on a high shelf in the oven and bake them for about 15 minutes.

While they are cooking, make the glaze by slowly melting together the sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a pan over a gentle heat until all the sugar grains have dissolved and you have a clear syrup. As soon as the buns come out of the oven, brush them immediately with the glaze while they are still warm.

Makes 12