fruit buns

Edd Kimber creates a version of Swedish sweet rolls. They're traditionally served in December but work well served at breakfast all year round

St Lucia Saffron Buns

milk

pack saffron

unsalted butter,

strong white bread flour

golden caster sugar

sachet fast-action yeast

egg, beaten, plus extra for egg wash

currants

St Lucia saffron buns

Put the milk in a small pan and gently heat until it’s steaming. Use a pestle and mortar to grind the saffron into a powder. Add this to the pan of milk along with the butter. Swirl to melt the butter, then set aside until lukewarm.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, caster sugar, 1 tsp salt and the yeast together, and make a well in the middle of the bowl. Pour in the milk mixture along with the egg. Mix together to form a sticky dough, then turn out onto the work surface and knead until smooth and elastic (this will take about 10 mins). Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling film. Set the bowl in a warm part of the house and allow to rise for about 1 hr until doubled in size.

Knock back the dough and divide into 12 equal portions. Cover the pieces with the oiled cling film while you make the rolls – this will stop the dough from drying out. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, roll out into a 30cm-long strand. Roll up one end into the middle, turn over and roll the other end into the middle, forming the dough into an S-shape. Place the buns on a large (or 2 smaller) parchment-lined baking tray. Once all the buns are made, lightly cover with oiled cling film and prove until almost doubled in size (if making ahead, keep the dough in the fridge overnight and bake in the morning). While the buns prove, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

When ready to bake, brush the buns with beaten egg and press a currant into the centre of each spiral. Put the trays in the oven and bake for around 15 mins. Allow to cool before serving. These are best eaten on the day they are made but will keep for a couple of days.

The longer the dough for this sweet fruit bread stays in the fridge the better the flavour - perfect with a cup of tea

Sticky date buns

tsp caster sugar

sachets fast-action dried yeast

00 flour, sponge flour

melted, remainder very soft

egg,

date

light soft brown sugar

icing sugar, for dusting (optional)

Up to 3 days before you want to bake, mix the caster sugar, yeast, 400g of the flour and 1 tsp salt in a big bowl. Whisk together the milk, melted butter and egg, then tip into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon. Cover with buttered cling film and put in the fridge at least overnight or for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to make the buns, put the dates in a bowl and pour over just enough boiling water to cover. Leave to soak for 15-20 mins. Drain, pat dry, stone and chop.

Mix the remaining flour into the dough. Use your hands to bring the dough together, then tip out onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead. Roll out with a little more flour to a large rectangle, about 50 x 30cm, with one of the short sides facing you. Spread over three-quarters of the soft butter, then sprinkle over three-quarters of the brown sugar. Fold the bottom third of the dough up and over the middle third, then the top third down over the other two.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rotate the dough 90 degrees, or a quarter turn one way. Roll out again to a similar-sized rectangle as before, this time with one of the long edges facing you. Spread over all but 1 heaped tsp of the remaining butter, scatter over the remaining brown sugar, and sprinkle over the dates. Roll up tightly like a Swiss roll from one of the long edges. Trim the ends a tiny bit, and slice into 12 roughly even portions. Lightly butter the holes of a muffin tin with the reserved butter, then push a roll, cut-side up, into each hole.

Bake for 50 mins until golden and risen. Remove from the tin while warm, so they don’t stick. Dust tops with icing sugar, if you like, or serve sticky-bottom up.

Follow master baker Paul Hollywood's ultimate step-by-step guide to creating perfectly decorated fruit buns

Hot cross buns

butter

strong bread flour

salt

caster sugar

sunflower oil

sultanas

mixed peel

orange

apple

cinnamon

plain flour

apricot jam

Bring 300ml full-fat&nbsp;milk to the boil, then remove from the heat and add 50g&nbsp;butter. Leave to cool until it reaches hand temperature. Put 500g strong bread&nbsp;flour, 1 tsp salt, 75g caster sugar and 7g sachet fast-action or easy-blend&nbsp;yeast into a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the warm milk and butter mixture, then add 1 beaten egg. Using a wooden spoon, mix well, then bring everything together with your hands until you have a sticky dough.

Tip on to a lightly floured surface and knead by holding the dough with one hand and stretching it with the heal of the other hand, then folding it back on itself. Repeat for 5 mins until smooth and elastic. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hr or until doubled in size and a finger pressed into it leaves a dent.

With the dough still in the bowl, tip in 75g&nbsp;sultanas, 50g mixed peel, zest of 1 orange, 1 finely chopped apple and 1 tsp ground cinnamon. Knead into the dough, making sure everything is well distributed. Leave to rise for 1 hr more, or until doubled in size, again covered by some well-oiled cling film to stop the dough getting a crust.

Divide the dough into 15 even pieces (about 75g per piece). Roll each piece into a smooth ball on a lightly floured work surface. Arrange the buns on one or two baking trays lined with parchment, leaving enough space for the dough to expand. Cover (but don&rsquo;t wrap) with more oiled cling film, or a clean tea towel, then set aside to prove for 1 hr more.

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix 75g plain&nbsp;flour with about 5 tbsp water to make the paste for the cross &ndash; add the water 1 tbsp at a time, so you add just enough for a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe a line along each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses. Bake for 20 mins on the middle shelf of the oven, until golden brown.

Gently heat 3 tbsp&nbsp;apricot jam to melt, then sieve to get rid of any chunks. While the jam is still warm, brush over the top of the warm buns and leave to cool.

Sticky buns are made even fruitier with a layer of juicy mincemeat, dried apricots and glace cherries. Add plenty of spice and top with sugar glaze

Mincemeat Chelsea buns

whole milk

flour

sachet fast-action dried yeast

½ cinnamon

½ tsp mixed spice

sunflower or vegetable oil

mincemeat

apricot

glacé cherry, chopped

sugar

icing sugar

Heat the milk in a pan until steaming. Remove from the heat, add the butter, then leave to cool until lukewarm and the butter has melted. Put the flour, yeast, sugar, spices and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl, and mix together. Make a well in the centre, and pour in the egg and milk mixture. Mix everything together with your hands to form a dough – it will be quite wet. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-10 mins until smooth. Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size – this will take 1-2 hrs depending on how warm the room is. You could rise the dough in the fridge overnight, but make sure you bring to room temperature before moving on to the next step.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few moments. Roll out to a 45 x 40cm rectangle, with the longest edge facing you. Mix together the butter and sugar for the filling, and spread all over the dough. Follow with the mincemeat, then sprinkle over the apricots and cherries. Roll up firmly, starting from one of the long sides. Using a sharp knife, cut off either end of the roll to neaten, then slice into 8 even pieces. Arrange, cut-side up, on an oiled tray, leaving about 1cm between each bun and making sure the tail ends are pointing inwards. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave to prove until doubled in size – about 30 mins. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar and bake for 22-25 mins until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack. Melt the jam with ½ tbsp water and brush over the buns, then leave to cool.

Mix the icing sugar with enough water to make a runny icing. Using a spoon, drizzle the icing back and forth over the buns. Leave for 10 mins to set before eating. Will keep in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Make the most of the long Easter weekend and fill the house with the smell of spiced buns baking

Spiced hot cross buns

strong white flour

sachets easy-blend yeast

unsalted butter

nutmeg

currant

tbsp plain flour

Put the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp salt into a large mixing bowl with the spices and dried fruit and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, 50ml warm water, the beaten egg and the melted butter. Mix everything together to form a dough – start with a wooden spoon and finish with your hands. If the dough is too dry, add a little more warm water; if it’s too wet, add more flour.

Knead in the bowl or on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and springy. 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.

Tip the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for a few secs, then divide into 12 even portions – I roll my dough into a long sausage shape, then quarter and divide each quarter into 3 pieces. Shape each portion into a smooth round and place on a baking sheet greased with butter, leaving some room between each bun for it to rise.

Use a small, sharp knife to score a cross on the top of each bun, then cover with the damp tea towel again and leave in a warm place to prove for 20 mins until almost doubled in size again. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

When the buns are ready to bake, mix the plain flour with just enough water to give you a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag (or into a plastic food bag and snip the corner off) and pipe a white cross into the crosses you cut earlier. Bake for 12-15 mins until the buns are golden and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. While still warm, melt the granulated sugar with 1 tbsp water in a small pan, then brush over the buns.

Delicious spiced hot cross buns packed full of fruity goodness - the best thing about Easter!

Hot Cross Buns

water

brown sugar

Tablespoon active dried yeast

Tablespoon mixed spice

raisins

butter (melted)

vanilla extract

Tablespoon sugar

Add the milk, water and brown sugar to a microwave proof jug or small pot and heat until warm to the touch (about 45°C/110°F) Whisk well to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle the yeast on top, stir in and leave to sit for 5 minutes.

While you are waiting, combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, salt, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg, raisins/currants and mixed peel in a large bowl and whisk together.

In another small jug melt the butter, add the egg and vanilla and whisk together until all ingredients are incorporated.

Once the yeast has started to bubble, add the flour mixture and butter mixture to the yeast mixture and using the dough hook attachment on your stand mixer, knead for 7-8 minutes until the dough springs back when you press it. If kneading by hand, combine the dough with a wooden spoon and then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. Add a little more flour if the dough is really sticky.

Cover the dough in gladwrap or a clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size.&nbsp;

Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently and turn out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface.&nbsp;Split the dough into 10 evenly sized pieces roll into balls and place on a baking tray lined with a silicone liner or baking paper, so that they are almost touching. Cover with gladwrap that has been lightly sprayed with cooking oil and  leave to rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F.

While the buns are rising, make the mixture for the crosses. In a small bowl whisk together milk, flour and sugar until smooth. Once the buns have risen, pipe the crosses on the buns, by putting the cross mixture into a piping bag or ziplock bag with the corner snipped off. If you don't have a piping bag or ziplock bag, you can carefully drizzle it with a spoon.

Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. While the buns are baking, prepare the glaze by mixing the sugar and water in a small bowl and microwaving until the sugar has dissolved.

Remove from the oven and brush the buns with the sugar glaze and allow them to cool slightly.

To serve, slice the buns in half, spread with butter and enjoy!

Buns will keep in an airtight container for 3 days or can also be frozen. They are definitely best served the day of baking but you can zap them in the microwave or toast them on day 2 or 3 and they're almost as good!

Use up your leftover fruit buns in this sumptuous spin on traditional bread and butter pudding - a great spring bake

Hot cross bread & lemon pudding

hot cross buns

lemon curd

eggs

double cream

tbsp caster sugar

lemon

cream cream

Butter a 1-litre baking dish that will quite snugly fit the buns. Cut each bun into 3 slices, and sandwich back together with a generous spreading of curd. Arrange buns in the dish.

Whisk egg, cream, milk and remaining curd, then sieve into a jug with the vanilla and 3 tbsp of the sugar. Pour over the buns and stand at room temperature for 30 mins for the custard to soak in.

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/ gas 3. Scatter the remaining sugar and lemon zest over the pudding. Bake for 30-40 mins until the top is golden and the custard gently set. Stand for 5 mins, then serve with cream or vanilla ice cream, if you like.

Our easy, traditional rock cake recipe is the ideal afternoon treat. These simple fruit buns are a great storecupboard bake that everyone will enjoy

Rock cakes

self-raising flour

tsp baking powder

light muscovado sugar

mixed dried fruit

egg, beaten

tbsp milk

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Tip the flour, baking powder and 1 tsp spice into a bowl. Add the butter, cut into small pieces. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture forms fine crumbs (or do this in the food processor).

Stir in the muscovado sugar and fruit, then add the egg and milk. Mix to a fairly firm dough. Spoon 10 rough blobs of the mixture onto the baking sheet, leaving room for a little spreading. Mix together the sugar and remaining mixed spice and sprinkle over the cakes. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden brown.

Top 8 fruit buns recipes from across the web

The most viewed fruit buns recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

St Lucia Saffron Buns

Sticky date buns

Hot cross buns

Mincemeat Chelsea buns

Spiced hot cross buns

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross bread & lemon pudding

Rock cakes

Top 8 fruit buns recipes from across the web

The most viewed fruit buns recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

St Lucia Saffron Buns

Sticky date buns

Hot cross buns

Mincemeat Chelsea buns

Spiced hot cross buns

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross bread & lemon pudding

Rock cakes

The most viewed fruit buns recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine