SOURDOUGH HOT CROSS BUNS

Sourdough hot cross buns image

Enjoy baking sourdough bread? Then you have to give these hot cross buns a go. They take more effort, but the result is some of the best buns you'll ever taste

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

300g active sourdough starter (see recipe, below)
2 large eggs, beaten
200ml milk
500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
60g golden caster sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
1 orange, zested
150g raisins, or a mixture of small dried fruits (such as raisins, mixed peel and cranberries)
100g unsalted butter, softened

Steps:

Before you start, ensure the sourdough starter is very bubbly (if it's not, feed it and wait until 1 tsp of the starter floats in warm water). Tip 200g of the starter into a large bowl with all but 2 tbsp of the egg, the milk, flour, sugar, cinnamon, mixed spice, orange zest and raisins. Mix with your hands until you have a shaggy dough (all the flour should be mixed in). Or, do this in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Cover with a clean, damp tea towel and leave to prove for 30 mins. Cover the rest of the sourdough starter and keep chilled.
Work the butter and 1 tsp salt into the dough by squashing it in using your hands. Once fully combined, tip the dough onto a surface and knead gently for 5 mins until smooth and springy (again, this can be done in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook). Form the dough into a ball, then return it to the bowl. Cover and leave somewhere slightly warm for 3-4 hrs to prove until the dough has almost doubled in size.
Tip the dough onto a floured work surface and knead briefly, then divide into 12 pieces, about 100g each. Roll the pieces into balls and arrange on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, leaving some room between each. Cover with a clean, damp tea towel, then leave to prove again for 2-3 hrs at room temperature until doubled in size, or chill overnight (this will result in better flavour and a neater shape).
If the buns have been chilled, remove from the fridge 1 hr before baking. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the buns with the reserved egg. Tip the remaining starter into a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle, and pipe crosses onto the buns. Bake for 20-25 mins until light brown. Leave to cool slightly and serve warm, or cool completely. Best eaten on the day, but will keep for two days in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 343 calories, Fat 9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 55 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 14 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 0.09 milligram of sodium