Wednesday 16 April 2014

Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns














I made Caramel-Studded Hot Cross Buns last year and they were a big hit with my kids. Back then, both my boys were anti-dried-fruit. But when I made this No-Knead Fruit Bread with Candied Orange and Cinnamon Butter recently, my eldest son couldn't get enough of it. He ate almost half the loaf standing at the kitchen counter, in silence then asked "What's for dinner Mum?" (he's thirteen... and growing). I thought I'd risk a fruity hot cross bun this year seeing as how we've just harvested the apples from our trees and at least one of our kids might help Clint and I eat them. The other child will just have to be content with obscene amounts of chocolate. It's tough, but I'm sure he's up to the challenge.



Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns
adapted from Gourmet Traveller
Makes 20

325g golden caster sugar, divided
1 lemon (I used a Meyer lemon), cut in half and 1 half cut into small dice
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
1 cinnamon stick
750g "00" flour
150 sultanas
14g dried yeast (2 sachets)
31/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Finely grated rind 1 large orange
380ml warm milk (40 - 43 C)
100g butter, melted and cooled
1 egg

Line a large baking pan with baking paper. I used a 30cm round pan. Set aside.

Put 260g of the golden caster sugar, 375ml water and the juice of half of the lemon into a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the diced apple and diced half of the lemon and the cinnamon stick and bring to the simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 - 25 minutes until the fruit starts to breakdown and is very soft. Strain, reserving the fruit and syrup separately. Put the fruit into a blender and blitz until you have a smooth puree. Set aside.

Put 700g of the flour, sultanas, dried yeast, 3 teaspoons of the ground cinnamon, allspice, salt. apple and lemon puree, remaining 65g of golden caster sugar and orange zest into the bowl of a electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. With the mixer on low, add the melted butter, egg and enough of the warm milk to form a soft dough. You may not need all of the milk. Mix on low 5 minutes then turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with your hands for a couple of minutes. Form the dough into a ball and place it in a buttered bowl, cover with cling film and leave it in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 - 40 minutes.

Knock back the dough and divide it into 20 even portions. Knead each portion and shape it into a ball. Arrange the balls circles on the prepared baking pan, leaving 1cm between each to allow the dough to expand. Cover with a cloth and stand in a warm place for 30 - 40 minutes until doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 220 C.

Combine the remaining 50g flour with 70ml water in a bowl and stir until it forms a smooth paste. Spoon the paste into a disposable plastic piping bag, cut a small hole in the tip and pipe crosses onto each bun.

Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 200 C and bake for a further 8 - 10 minutes, until golden and the buns sound hollow when the bases are tapped.

While the buns are baking, make the glaze by combining the reserved syrup and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small saucepan and stir it over medium heat until it reduces to a syrupy consistency. Brush the glaze thickly over the hot buns, then transfer them onto a wire rack to cool.

34 comments:

  1. Those boys are so lucky to have you!!

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    1. That's the loveliest thing to say. Thanks Marie.

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  2. Beautiful photos! It makes me want to go to do it...

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  3. Aww apple time of the year, one of the best! These hot cross buns looks awesome. With the meyer lemon and the orange's grind, YUM!

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    1. The flavour combo is pretty classic. Apple season is full of promise.

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  4. Incredible! Really making me want to make hot cross buns now... I might have to get on that tomorrow :-) Love the apple addition by the way

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  5. Those apples! Gorgeous! And those buns are to die for!

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    1. Thanks Maria. We're so lucky to be able to grow our own.

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  6. Gorgeous!! I love the round pan presentation too. So great with apples :-)

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    1. Thanks Jo. The apples give them sweetness and keep them moist.

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  7. Your photos and presentation are stellar! great recipe!

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  8. Just popped by to let you know you,ve been featured today over at Carole's Chatter. Cheers

    PS great hot x buns - how about adding them to the Easter Foods collection?

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  9. Yep...I definitely want a garden like yours when I grow up! Your boys are all lucky to have you :) These hot cross buns are definitely my style. I love apples in baking. You are definitely inspiring me to make something yeasted for Sunday morning breakfast...

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    1. Thanks Amy. Such a lovely thing to say. I love apples in anything too. Hope you love these if you get around to making them.

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  10. Would you please come to my place this weekend and bake some of these for me!? Delicious!

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    1. Ha ha. If you save me some Curry Goat, deal?

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  11. PS am sharing these in my Easter round up on the blog xo

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  12. Beautiful. I have never made hot cross buns but now I just might.

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    1. Thanks Jamie. These were a hit with my family.

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  13. I love hot cross buns but add apple and I'm in heaven - truly. I'll be making these tomorrow!

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    1. I hope you love them. Let me know how you go.

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  14. Oh my, but those look glorious!

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  15. I made these for good Friday this morning and they were totally delicious. They tasted great and looked just like the photo. Thanks!

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  16. I wish I read this post earlier... I definitely would have made them in time for Easter morning. But alas, I'm sitting in bed at 11.08pm and I need to be up at 6am tomorrow (I'm singing at a Church Easter service. Hopefully I'll be awake by the time the people arrive). Gorgeous photos. Where do you get your apples from? I am completely and utterly envious of that gorgeous basket of fresh-picked fruit. I'm going to make these next week... let's just say I'm getting some practice in for next Easter ;)

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    1. Practice makes perfect.The apples are off our very own trees. It's a real treat to be able to pick your own apples. However, we spend most of late summer shooing the parrots away from them.

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  17. Hi, Is the recipe supposed to have an egg in the ingredient list? It's in the method but not listed in the ingredients. Thanks

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