Take your time with this recipe and you will be rewarded with some delicious soft buns to enjoy with your family. Perfect warm freshly made, or with butter toasted. Add the crosses or leave them off, mix up the fun bits to add nutrition

Hot Cross Buns

· 3 cups all-purpose flour

· ¼ cup sugar

· 1 teaspoon salt

· 1 package instant yeast 1 packet = 2 and 1/4 teaspoons

· 3/4 cup milk

· 4 Tablespoons butter

· 1 large egg

· ½ cup raisins

· ¼ cup peel or chopped glazed cherries

· 1 orange, grate the rind for zest

· 2 tsp cinnamon

· ½ tsp all spice (or ½ tsp nutmeg and ¼ tsp cloves)

· ½ tsp cardamon (optional)

Crosses:

· 1-2 TBSP Flour

· 1 TBSP Icing sugar

· 1 TBSP Water

Glaze:

· 3 Tablespoons Apricot jam

1. Pre-heat the oven to proof the yeast to its lowest setting (170F).

2. Warm the milk in microwave for 30 seconds.

3. In a small bowl mix the sugar, salt and warm milk together.

4. Gently tap the yeast onto surface of the milk mixture so it all floats evenly, cover the bowl with a plate and put in the oven to active the yeast for 5-10 minutes. Turn the oven off for this process.

5. In a large bowl, mix the flour and spices together.

6. In a small microwavable bowl, gently melt the butter in the microwave (about 20 seconds).

7. Beat the egg and add to the flour with the melted butter.

8. Add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and mix into a sticky dough.

9. Knead with hands for 3-4 minutes or until the dough is no longer sticky.

10. Place in a lightly greased bowl and let rest for about 15 minutes in the warm oven. The dough can be allowed to proof longer until it doubles in size.

11. Punch down gently, and fold the orange zest and dried fruit into the dough gently, folding several times to distribute the fruit evenly.

12. Optional: allow dough to rise again in warm oven. This step is can be skipped.

13. Cut the dough half, then half again, and then into thirds to create 12 equally-sized balls of dough.

14. Fold the corners underneath, pinch then and roll the dough balls into spheres with caged fingers on lightly floured surface. Place buns in a lightly greased square or rectangular pan and lightly cover with a clean towel or wrap.

15. Place the buns in the warmed oven to rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

16. Pre-heat the oven to 375F.

17. Create a paste from the flour, icing sugar and water. Using a spoon or piping bag drizzle on the lines across the surface of the buns.

18. Bake the hot cross buns for 20 minutes until golden.

19. Prepare the glaze by heating the apricot jam in microwave for 30 seconds and stirring it well. Brush over the top of the buns while they are still warm.

Enjoy!