Soft Hot Cross Buns

Step 1

Place the Bread Flour and milk in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and forms a thick paste - this should take 2-3 minutes from start to finish. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer and place a piece of plastic wrap over the top to prevent a skin forming. Cool to room temperature. I like to soak my fruit while this is cooling.

Step 2

Place the raisins and currants in a medium bowl and cover with the tea. Leave to stand for 30 minutes then drain well. I like to drain the fruit while I am mixing my dough.

Step 3

Remove the plastic wrap from the Tangzhong or transfer it into the bowl of the mixer if it was not already. Add all the remaining dough ingredients except for the butter and the drained fruit.

Step 4

Fit the mixer with the dough hook, and mix on medium to high speed for 10-12 minutes. The dough will look super sticky and like it will not come together - trust me here. It will. Don't freak out. Set a timer and walk away from the mixer if you need to.

Step 5

Mix the dough until it is soft and smooth, and is clearing the sides of the bowl. This takes me about 12 minutes but may take you more or less time depending on your mixer. Go by how the dough is looking rather than the time. Add the butter and mix on medium for a further 3-5 minutes until incorporated.

Step 6

Turn the dough out onto an unfloured surface and lightly press into a rectangle. Add the drained fruit on top of the dough and fold it up to incorporate. Knead the dough with the help of a bench scraper until the fruit is evenly incorporated. It will be weird and squishy at the start but it all incorporates eventually promise. Use a little flour if needed to shape the dough into a ball, then place into a lightly oiled or buttered bowl.

Step 7

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot to rise until approximately doubled in size. This should take anywhere from 2-3 hours. It won't get super puffy. You can do this in a clear sided container if you need and mark where the dough line is when you start the rise so you can measure easily.

Step 8

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Weigh the dough, then divide into 9 equal pieces. Shape each into a tight ball, then place the balls of dough under a piece of lightly greased plastic wrap and leave to rest for 10 minutes. While the dough is resting, grease and line a 9" (23cm) baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 9

Re-shape each ball of dough into a tight ball (using a little flour helps tuck all the fruit inside the ball), and place each into the prepared baking pan.

Step 10

Cover the pan with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot for 1-2 hours until the buns are puffy and when pressed lightly with a finger, leaves a small indentation that starts to spring back.

Step 11

Toward the end of the rising process, preheat the oven to 350°f / 180°c.

Step 12

Prepare the cross mixture by combining the flour and water and mix until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag and clip the end up.

Step 13

Snip the tip off the piping bag and pipe crosses onto the tops of the buns (do all the vertical lines first then horizontal. Do one continuous line rather than individual crosses). You can practice the pressure you need to get the size of the line you want on a piece of parchment paper first if needed.

Step 14

Bake the buns for about 30 minutes until golden brown, and registering 190°f / 90°c internal temperature (make sure you test in a few places so your thermometer isn't accidentally in a raisin!)

Step 15

Toward the end of the baking process, make the sugar syrup. Brush the buns with the syrup as soon as they come out of the oven.

Step 16

Leave the buns to cool slightly then serve warm or at room temperature with butter. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temp, and briefly refresh in the microwave or oven before eating - they are amazing toasted.

Step 17

Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Boil for 1-2 minutes, then leave to stand until ready to use.