Chef’s Recipe: Hot Cross Buns from Daylesford

This classic Easter recipe is a firm Daylesford and Luxury Restaurant Guide favourite. They are lots of fun to make, especially for children who can help to shape the buns and pipe the distinctive white crosses. Remember to leave enough time to prove the dough which is essential for a light, fluffy bun. They are best served warm with organic butter.

For the buns (recipe makes 12)

500g strong white flour

1tsp mixed spice

2tsp ground cinnamon

10g fine sea salt

110ml whole milk

220ml water

75g butter, softened

25g golden syrup

7g sachet of dried yeast

90g currants

70g sultanas

70g mixed peel

1 egg, beaten

For the crosses

60g plain flour

60ml water

15g sunflower oil

For the glaze

25g sugar

1tsp lemon juice

1tsp golden syrup

25ml water

To make the dough, sift the flour, spices and salt into a large bowl.

Gently warm the milk, water, butter and golden syrup in a pan until the syrup and butter have just melted. Test the temperature and if no hotter than lukewarm, stir in the yeast. Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour in the milk and yeast mixture.

Using your hands, mix together to form a wet dough. Turn onto a surface dusted with flour and knead for 10 minutes or so until the dough is smooth. Gently roll out the dough to about 2cm thick. Sprinkle over the currants, sultanas and mixed peel and knead again until evenly distributed through the dough. Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for 1-2 hours until roughly doubled in size.

Turn the dough out onto the floured worktop again and knock back by pressing down with the flat of your hand a few times to even out the bubbles of air. Divide into 12 even pieces and shape into buns before placing on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel and prove again until doubled in size.

Brush the buns with the beaten egg and preheat the oven to 210c.

To make the paste for the crosses, mix the flour, water and oil together in a bowl until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a medium plain nozzle. When the buns have doubled in size, pipe the paste mixture onto the top of each to form a cross. Then bake in the top section of the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden.

While the buns are baking, make the glaze. Place the sugar, lemon juice, golden syrup and water in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

When baked, remove the buns from the oven and while still warm, brush the tops with the glaze. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Serve with unsalted butter, hot, warm, or cold, toasted sliced or torn….and enjoy.

Alternatively, for those wishing to enjoy their ethos of the very best organic cuisine we highly recommend visiting their modern British pub with rooms in Kingham, Gloucestershire – The Wild Rabbit. Club members enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne when dining for lunch or dinner from Monday to Friday.

The Wild Rabbit, Church Street, Kingham, Chipping Norton, Gloucestershire OX7 6YA