CHOCOLATE CHIP HOT CROSS BUNS

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Chocolate chip hot cross buns image

Kids can help make these alternative spiced Easter buns - the recipe helps with kneading, shaping, piping and division skills

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Categories     Treat

Time 1h

Yield Makes 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

400g strong white bread flour , plus extra for dusting
7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
50g golden caster sugar , plus 1 tsp
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
250ml warm milk
1 medium egg , beaten
50g butter , melted, plus extra for greasing
100g chocolate chip (milk or dark, whichever you prefer), or currants or raisins
50g plain flour
2 tbsp apricot jam

Steps:

  • KIDS the writing in bold is for you ADULTS the rest is for you. Mix the bun ingredients. Put the strong flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp salt in a bowl with the spices and mix. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk, egg and butter. Start mixing with a plastic or wooden spoon and finish with your hands. If the dough is too dry, add warm water, or extra flour if it's wet.
  • Now stretch the dough - this is called kneading. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 mins until it becomes smooth and springy. This will be a bit too much work for children, so get them to start the kneading, then when they get tired, take over.
  • Leave the dough to rise until doubled in size because of the yeast. Transfer to a clean, lightly greased bowl and cover loosely with a clean, damp tea towel. Leave in a warm place to rise until roughly doubled in size - this will take about 1 hr depending on how warm the room is.
  • Add the chocolate chips and do some division. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and flatten. Scatter over the chocolate chips (or dried fruit), and knead the dough a few more times. Divide it into 8 even portions - halve the dough, then halve each portion twice more, and explain the maths.
  • Roll the dough into buns. Roll each portion into a smooth round and place on a greased baking sheet in 2 rows of 4, leaving some room between each bun for it to rise. Cover with a tea towel again and leave in a warm place to prove for 20 mins, until almost doubled in size again or just touching.
  • Make the crosses on the buns and bake them. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the plain flour with 1 tsp sugar and 4-5 tbsp water to give you a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag and pipe white lines on the buns to make crosses. Bake for 20 mins until they are light brown.
  • Brush them with jam if you want them to be nice and shiny. If you want to enjoy the buns untoasted, gently heat the jam in a pan or the microwave, and brush over the buns using a pastry brush. If you are going to toast them, then don't glaze them as the jam will burn.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 328 calories, Fat 8 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 52 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 11 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 10 grams protein, Sodium 0.7 milligram of sodium

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