Ingredients
- 2-3 cups flour (or more depending on the liquid content)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1/4 cup blended fruits (i used leftovers from my Christmas baking)
- 1/2 teaspoon yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- a pinch of salt
- 1 small egg
- 1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon mixed essence
- a dash of angostura bitters
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
For the Glaze
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 small or 1 medium sized bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 11/2 cups water
- 1/4-1/2 cup sugar (depends on your level of sweetness)
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350 degrees f
- in a pot or sauce pan on low heat, add milk and butter/margarine and mix until the butter is melted. (do not boil). once the milk mixture is finished, remove from heat and allow to cool as it will be slightly hot. add in yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar and mix. allow to sit on countertop for proofing (between 5 and 10 minutes)
- next, in another bowl, add egg, bitters and mixed essence. whisk until combined and set aside until ready to use
- in another bowl, add flour, spices, sugar, baking powder and salt. mix well until combined.
- once the yeast mixture is proofed, add all wet mixture to the dry and using a whisk or spatula, mix until a sticky dough is formed. add flour as needed and knead (about 8 minutes) until a sticky yet smooth firm dough is formed.
- place in a lightly greased bowl and allow to proof for about an hour. once proofed, place on a lightly floured counter top and and knead a bit, cut into desired equal parts and form into smooth round balls.
- place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and using a knife gently cut the top into a cross and allow to proof for a further 45 minutes.
- place in preheated oven and bake for approximately 40 to 45 minutes (this depends on the oven used, may be less or more time)
- remove from oven once baked and brush all over with the sugar glaze
To make the glaze
- in a medium sized skillet on medium high heat, add water, sugar and spices. stir until the sugar is melted and keep stirring occasionally until the water has reduced to about half and it starts to thicken. brush all over the buns and reserve any left overs for future use.
- enjoy!
N.B This is not your traditional Hot Cross Buns