Step 1

Place the orange zest and 100g of flour into the Thermomix. Mix for 10 seconds / speed Set aside.

Step 2

Add the butter to the bowl. Melt for 2 minutes / 60 degrees / speed 2.

Step 3

Add all the remaining ingredients (including the orange/flour mixture), except the currants. Mix for 5 seconds / speed 5.

Step 4

Add the currants and use the Dough function / 2 minutes.

Step 5

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl (it will be very sticky). Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to prove until doubled in size. This will take around 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is.

Step 6

Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knock the air out of it. Knead it by hand for a few seconds until smooth.

Step 7

Divide the mixture into 15 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball and place on a baking tray that is lined with baking paper. You should have three rows of five buns, spaced around 1cm apart.

Step 8

Now you need to let the buns prove again for around 30 minutes or until doubled in size. The best way to do this is on a high rack in a cold oven with the door closed and a bowl of boiling water in the bottom of the oven. This creates an ideal warm humid environment. If you can't do this - find a warm, non-drafty place and cover the buns with a clean tea towel while they prove.

Step 9

While the buns are proving, make the flour paste for the crosses: Add the flour and water to the Thermomix and mix for 30 seconds / speed 4.

Step 10

Transfer the flour paste to a piping bag and cut off the tip.

Step 11

Once the buns have doubled in size, remove from the oven (remember to remove the bowl of water) and pre-heat the oven to 180C / 350F.

Step 12

While you are waiting for the oven to heat up, pipe crosses onto the hot cross buns.

Step 13

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

Step 14

As soon as you remove the buns from the oven, mix together the water and sugar for the glaze. Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the buns and then transfer them to a cooling rack (if you have lined the tray with baking paper, you can easily move all the buns to the cooling rack in one go).

Step 15

Serve toasted with butter and enjoy.