Practice Makes Perfect

My Hot Cross Buns went down very well at work yesterday. I was happy with them, but curious to see what would have happened had I just proved them at room temperature for 10 or so minutes rather than proving them in the fridge overnight.

Well, I haven't had one of these new babies yet, but the do look more impressive straight out of the oven. They are little taller, so I guess mine did fall a bit in the fridge.

The official taste testers for these ones will be my mum, niece and nephew for breakfast tomorrow morning before we head out to the Easter Show.

This was going to be called 'A death in the family' but now I'm not so sure

Well, I got out of bed this morning very excited to see what my little buns had done overnight. I was more than a little dismayed when I opened the fridge as they appeared to have shrunk a little. I thought the fridge prove had proved to be a little too much for them (see what I did there?)

I pressed on regardless, turned the oven on and left them on top of it to warm up a little bit. I came back a little later and they seemed to have a bit more life in them.

A Hot Cross Bun isn't a Hot Cross Bun sans a cross.

I popped them into the oven and almost immediately things began to smell good. Really good. Like Hot Cross Buns straight from the oven kind of good.

20 minutes later, much to my delight, I pulled what appeared to be normal looking Hot Cross Buns from the oven.

I've put the glaze on, which makes them look even prettier.

Still a little concerned about what may be going on inside them, but we'll soon find out.

One a penny, two a penny...

As if I needed another reason to bake... Or another thing to eat over the next few choc-filled days.

I made Hot Cross Buns last Easter with my mum, but I don't think we kneaded them long enough and they turned out more cakey the bready.

What better time than Easter to have another crack at them.

I mixed together yeast, sugar and milk (my new favourite jersey milk). While it was doing its thing, I mixed flour and spice together and then rubbed the butter in.

Then, I mixed everything together with an egg and left it alone. I came back 45 minutes later and it had doubled in size - yeast is a wonderful thing!

I kneaded my dough and then split and shaped into buns, popped them into a pan and now they are in the fridge to prove overnight.

I just had a quick look and they are very busy rising! I'll be up early tomorrow morning to pipe the crosses and bake before work.