For me, the Easter season is embodied in the wafting spice of warm hot cross buns.

Hot Cross Buns
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Festive
Serves: 1 dozen
Ingredients
  • 300 g "00" flour
  • 200g whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup oat bran
  • ½ cup wheat bran
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp each nutmeg, cloves, cardamom
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tblspn cinnamon
  • ¼ cup candied / glace orange
  • 1 cup currants
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup cranberries
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tblspn honey
  • 2 sachet dried yeast
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • juice 1 orange
Instructions
  1. Mix all dry ingredients together and sift into a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix all fruit together and set aside.
  3. Mix milk and honey, heat 1 minute in microwave, stir to combine then sprinkle yeast over mixture and set aside for 10 minutes until foamy.
  4. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour the foamy milk into the center and mix to combine.
  5. Add the dried fruit and mix by hand to combine.
  6. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes until it becomes elastic and all fruit has been incorporated.
  7. Place dough in an oiled mixing bowl and cover with cling film, set the bowl in a warm, draught free space and allow it to rest until doubled in size.
  8. When dough has risen, turn it onto a floured surface, knock it back down, shape into a rectangle and slice into 3 inch squares.
  9. Snip the top of each bun with some scissors to make a cross, place buns on a baking sheet lined with parchment and set aside until doubled in size.
  10. Pre-Heat oven to 400f
  11. Brush buns with beaten egg white, bake about 30 mins or until golden brown.
  12. Enjoy hot from the oven with lashings of butter or re-heat by toasting or grilling.