Step 1

Melt the butter in a pan, add the milk and heat to body temperature (37°C/98.6°F). Dissolve the yeast in the milk and butter mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the salt, sugar and then the flour, little by little, while you knead the dough with the dough hook. Set aside a little of the flour for dusting later. Keep kneading for about 10 minutes, or until it comes clean off the sides of the bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and leave to rise for 30–40 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Step 2

While the dough is rising, make the filling by mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl.

Step 3

Line 2 baking sheets with baking (parchment) paper. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured work counter and knead it for a minute. Divide the dough in half and roll out each half into a rectangular shape about 1–1.5 cm/1⁄2–3⁄4 inch wide and the length of a baking sheet. Spread the filling onto the dough rectangles and fold one half of it onto the other, then cut the folded dough rectangles into 4-cm/11⁄2-inch wide slices. Make a cut in each slice, almost all the way to the end, creating the shape of a pair of trousers (pants). Twist each ‘leg’ and then tie them together as a knot, tuck- ing the end pieces under the bun. Put the buns on the prepared baking sheets and leave to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Step 4

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7.

Step 5

Make the topping by mixing the golden syrup and 1⁄2 tablespoon water together in a bowl. In a sepa- rate bowl, mix the sugar with the cardamom.

Step 6

Bake the buns for about 10 minutes. Remove the buns from the oven and brush them with the syrup, then sprinkle the sugar-cardamom mix on top. Leave to cool on wire racks.