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Classic Hot Cross Buns  
   
Neff Appliances: Ovens*, Combination Steam Oven
Preparation time: 30 minutes plus proving time
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Makes: 12
 
 
Ingredients
DOUG H
4 cups white bread flour
1 tablespoon bread improver
¼ cup sugar
8g sachet instant dried yeast
1 ½ cups sultanas
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 egg, beaten
400ml tepid water (approx.)
PIPING BATTER
½ cup plain flour
½ cup water (approx.)
BUN GLAZE
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
2 teaspoons mixed spice
 
Method

1. Remove all trays from oven. Insert wire rack on shelf position 2. Pour ½ cup of water into the
base of oven. Set oven to dough proving setting.*
For CombiSteam oven set to dough proving at 38°C.

2. Combine bread flour, improver, sugar, yeast, sultanas and spice in large warm bowl. Add egg
and enough water to form a soft dough. Knead well until smooth.

3. Place bowl with dough on wire rack in oven and leave until it doubles in size. (1-1½ hours)
4. Prepare bun glaze by combining all ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes until syrupy.

5. Prepare piping batter by mixing flour with water to form a thick batter. Place into plastic bag.

6. Remove dough and wire rack from oven. Turn dough out onto a clean surface. Knead until
smooth. Divide into 12 even sized pieces. Roll into smooth round balls.

7. Line baking tray with baking paper, or for CombiSteam oven, line perforated tray with baking
paper. Place buns on trays.

8. Return to oven (dough proving setting*) until doubled in size.(30-45 minutes)

9. Remove buns from oven and change to CircoTherm setting. Preheat oven to 180°C. For the oven remove buns and change to CircoSteam function. Preheat to 190°C.

10. Pipe crosses on top of buns. Bake buns on shelf position 1 or 3 for 25 minutes or until buns
are browned and sound hollow when tapped on base. Remove from oven. Brush immediately with bun glaze. Cool on wire rack. Enjoy.

 
Tips
• Decadent Buns. For a chocolate version replace sultanas with the same quantity of
chocolate chips and instead of pastry crosses pipe on chocolate crosses once buns have cooled.

• Fruity Buns. Instead of sultanas you could use the same quantity of any dried fruit. Apricots or
figs are different and delicious.

• Kids Buns. Get the children involved in making the buns. This dough won’t suffer from lots of
kneading or rolling. Why not substitute the sultanas with the same amount of smarties. The
kids will love them! Leaving the spice in is optional.