Hot Cross Bun Recipe Bread Maker

So, there I was, Easter Sunday, snowed in, with a house full of kids bouncing off the walls like they'd had one too many chocolate eggs. I mean, who needs a trampoline when you've got a pack of energizer bunnies, right? I was racking my brain for something to keep them occupied, when it hit me - why not bake some hot cross buns? Yeah, I know, I know, it's not exactly a snow day activity, but desperate times and all that.

Now, I'm not exactly Mary Berry in the kitchen. I mean, I can boil an egg, but ask me to knead dough and I'm likely to knead my own knuckles instead. That's where my trusty bread maker comes in. It's like my little kitchen sidekick, always ready to lend a hand (or a paddle, in this case).

Enter the Bread Maker

If you're not already acquainted, let me introduce you to the bread maker. It's like having a little baker in your kitchen, whipping up loaves while you're busy doing, well, anything else. It's perfect for us busy bees (or should that be busy bakers?), and it's especially handy when it comes to hot cross buns. Why? Well, let me tell you.

No Kneading Required

You know what I said about kneading dough? Yeah, the bread maker doesn't have that problem. It's got a paddle that does all the hard work for you. Just chuck in your ingredients, press a button, and Bob's your uncle. Well, not literally, but you get the idea.

Timing is Everything

Easter's a busy time, right? With all the egg hunting and chocolate munching, who's got time to keep an eye on the oven? Not me, that's for sure. That's where the bread maker's timer function comes in handy. You can set it to start baking while you're off doing other things. Just don't forget to set an alarm to take them out when they're done, or you might end up with a house that smells like a bakery... and a batch of burnt buns.

So, Let's Get Baking!

Alright, enough about my lack of baking prowess and my trusty sidekick. Let's get down to business. Here's a simple hot cross bun recipe that you can whip up in your bread maker. I promise, it's easier than it sounds.

Ingredients

• 300ml warm water
• 450g strong white bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 75g caster sugar
• 7g fast-action dried yeast
• 50g butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 100g dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, cranberries - whatever takes your fancy)

Instructions

1. Add the warm water, flour, salt, mixed spice, sugar, yeast, melted butter, and egg to your bread maker. Select the 'dough' setting and press start.
2. Once the dough cycle has finished, add the dried fruit and give it a quick mix. You can do this by hand or use the dough hook attachment on your mixer.
3. Grease a 23cm square tin or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Place them in the tin or on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
5. Cover the buns with a clean tea towel and leave them to rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until they've doubled in size.
6. Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan) or Gas Mark 7.
7. Mix 75g plain flour with enough water to make a smooth paste. Spoon it into a piping bag and pipe a cross on top of each bun.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Once baked, brush the buns with a little warm apricot jam mixed with a splash of water for a shiny finish.
10. Leave them to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

And there you have it! Hot cross buns, made easy with your trusty bread maker. They're perfect for breakfast, elevenses, or even just a sneaky snack while you're hiding the Easter eggs. Just remember to save some for the kids, yeah? They might not appreciate your baking skills as much as you do, but they'll sure appreciate the buns!

Happy baking, and happy Easter!