It’s that time of year again! That time when I buy a new tin of instant yeast and start making buns – starting with the hot cross kind. I will be making hot cross buns for Oscar this weekend. We gave him a chance to try some commercial buns last weekend while he was out with his grandparents, but apparently they weren’t as good as mine!
Pear Hot Cross Buns
I have three hot cross bun recipes – pear buns, fruit buns and choc-chip (carob buttons and white melts work as well). Guess which one is his favourite!
Pear Hot Cross Buns
Print recipe
| Serves | 12 |
| Prep time | 1 hour, 45 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 2 hours |
| Allergy / Intolerance | Amines, Artificial Addititives, Artificial Colours, Glutamates, Preservatives, Salicylates |
| Suitable for | RPAH Elimination Diet - Low Chemical / Failsafe |
| Meal type | Sweet Things |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Easter |
Ingredients
- 150ml warm milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Lowan's Dried Instant Yeast
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 1/2 cup plain white flour
- 1 cup plain wholemeal flour
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
- 50g unsalted Butter (softened and chopped)
- 1 pear (peeled, cored and mashed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 egg
For the crosses:
- 3 tablespoons plain white flour
- 2-3 tablespoons water
For the glaze:
- 1 tablespoon pear jam (Refer to Basics Page)
Directions
| 1. | In a medium bowl, combine the milk, yeast and caster sugar. Leave in a warm place for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy. |
| 2. | Sift the flours into a large bowl, adding the husks back in. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir through the brown sugar. |
| 3. | Whisk the egg into the yeast mixture, then add to the flour mixture with the golden syrup, vanilla, essence and mashed pear. Mix to a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. |
| 4. | Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with cling wrap and stand in a warm place for 40 minutes for the dough to rise. |
| 5. | Lightly grease a baking tray or square/rectangular cake tin. |
| 6. | Punch the dough down once to release the gas. Knead lightly then divide into 12 equal pieces. Knead each piece until smooth then shape into rounds. Arrange the pieces on the tray, slightly apart. Cover with cling wrap or a clean tea towel and stand 20 minutes in a warm place for the dough to rise again. |
| 7. | While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 200 C. |
| 8. | To make the crosses mix the flour and enough water to make a smooth paste. Pipe the crosses on top of the buns. |
| 9. | Bake the buns for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they sound hollow when tapped. |
| 10. | To make the glaze, warm the jam over low heat until it thins. Mash out any lumps and add a bit of water if it needs to be thinned more. Brush over the hot buns. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. |
| 11. | Best served warm straight after baking. Can be store in an airtight container or in the freezer. Reheat buns in the oven wrapped in tin foil, or cut in half and place under the grill. |
Note
Low Chemical / Failsafe
If using a different brand of yeast, modify the quantity based on the yeast instructions.
Refer to the Basics Page for pear jam recipes.
Fruit Hot Cross Buns
| Serves | 12 |
| Prep time | 1 hour, 45 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 2 hours |
| Allergy / Intolerance | Amines, Artificial Addititives, Artificial Colours, Glutamates, Preservatives, Salicylates |
| Suitable for | Amines Challenge, RPAH Elimination Diet - Amines Allowed, RPAH Elimination Diet - High Chemical, RPAH Elimination Diet - Low Chemical / Failsafe, RPAH Elimination Diet - Moderate Chemical, Salicylate Challenge |
| Meal type | Sweet Things |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Easter |
Ingredients
- 150ml milk (warm)
- 8g Lowan's Dried Instant Yeast (or as per yeast instructions)
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 cup plain white flour
- 1 cup plain wholemeal flour
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 50g unsalted Butter (softened and chopped)
- 1 cup dried fruit - apple, pear, banana, paw paw (chopped into 1/2 to 1cm sized pieces, refer to the basics page for making preservative-free dried fruit.)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 egg
For the crosses:
- 3 tablespoons plain white flour
- 2 - 3 tablespoons water
For the glaze:
- 1 tablespoon golden syrup
Directions
| 1. | In a medium bowl, combine the milk, yeast and caster sugar. Leave in a warm place for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy. |
| 2. | Sift the flours into a large bowl, adding the husks back in. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir through the dried fruit and brown sugar. |
| 3. | Whisk the egg into the yeast mixture, then add to the flour mixture with the maple syrup and mix to a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. |
| 4. | Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with cling wrap and stand in a warm place for 40 minutes for the dough to rise. |
| 5. | Lightly grease a baking tray or square cake tin. |
| 6. | Punch the dough down once to release the gas. Knead lightly then divide into 12 equal pieces. Knead each piece until smooth then shape into rounds. Arrange the pieces on the tray, slightly apart. Cover with cling wrap or a clean tea towel and stand 20 minutes in a warm place for the dough to rise again. |
| 7. | While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 200 C. |
| 8. | To make the crosses, mix the flour and enough water to make a smooth paste. Pipe the crosses on top of the buns. |
| 9. | Bake the buns for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they sound hollow when tapped. |
| 10. | To make the glaze, warm the golden syrup over low heat until it thins. Brush over the hot buns. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. |
| 11. | Best served warm. Store in an airtight container or in the freezer. Reheat wrapped in the oven wrapped in tin foil. |
Note
Low Chemical / Failsafe, High Amines, Moderate Salicylates
Variations: For a low chemical version use just dried pear. If high amines are tolerated include dried banana and/or paw paw. If moderate salicylates are tolerated include the dried apple. If salicylates are tolerated, replace the maple syrup with a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (high salicylates).
These are mini hot cross buns (smaller than store bought), you could make fewer big ones and cook for a bit longer, but I think these are the perfect portion size for a snack.
Chocolate/Carob Chip Hot Cross Buns
| Serves | 12 |
| Prep time | 1 hour, 45 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 2 hours |
| Allergy / Intolerance | Artificial Addititives, Artificial Colours, Glutamates, Preservatives, Salicylates |
| Suitable for | Amines Challenge, RPAH Elimination Diet - Amines Allowed, RPAH Elimination Diet – Very High Chemical |
| Meal type | Sweet Things |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Easter |
Ingredients
- 150ml milk
- 8g Lowan's Dried Instant Yeast
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 cup plain white flour
- 1 cup plain wholemeal flour
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 50g unsalted Butter
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped carob buttons
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 heaped tablespoon cocoa or carob
For the crosses:
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa or carob
- 2 - 3 tablespoons water
For the glaze:
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar
Directions
Note
Very High Amines, Low Salicylate, Low Glutamates
Using cocoa and chocolate chips in this recipe is High Amines. If carob and carob buttons are used the recipe is low chemical / FAILSAFE.
Variations: Use Nestle white melts instead of the carob/chocolate chips. If salicylates are tolerated, replace the maple syrup with a 1/2teaspoon of cinnamon.
Notes:
I used 1 1/2 tspns of Lowan’s Instant Dried Yeast.
These are mini hot cross buns (smaller than store bought), you could make fewer big ones and cook for a bit longer, but I think these are the perfect portion size for a snack.
