Bread Machine Recipe For Hot Cross Buns

Hey there, bakers! Fancy whipping up some Hot Cross Buns without the hassle? Let's dive into a bread machine recipe that'll make your kitchen smell like a dream and your taste buds dance a jig. Grab your apron, let's get started!

Ingredients

First things first, let's round up our ingredients. You'll need:

• 300ml of warm milk (that's about 1 and 1/4 cups, for those who prefer imperial measurements)
• 50g of unsalted butter, melted (that's a little over 1/4 cup, if you're still in the mood for imperial)
• 450g of strong white bread flour (that's about 3 and 3/4 cups, just in case you're not tired of conversions yet)
• 1 tsp of salt
• 75g of caster sugar (that's about 1/3 cup, you've got this!)
• 7g of fast-action dried yeast (that's about 2 and 1/4 tsp, almost there!)
• 1 tsp of mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice - you know the drill)
• 2 eggs
• 100g of mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas - whatever floats your boat)

And for the crosses and glaze:

• 75g of plain flour
• 75ml of water
• 2 tbsp of apricot jam, for glazing (optional, but it adds a lovely sheen)

Let's Get Kneady!

Alright, now that we've got our ingredients, let's chuck them into your trusty bread machine. Start by adding the warm milk and melted butter. Then, toss in the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and mixed spice. Make a little well in the middle and crack in those eggs. Finally, throw in your mixed dried fruit.

Set your bread machine to the 'dough' setting and let it do its magic. While you're waiting, why not put the kettle on and treat yourself to a cuppa? You deserve it!

Shaping Up

Once the dough cycle is done, tip it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and shape them into balls. Place them onto a lined baking tray, leaving a little space between each bun. Cover with a clean tea towel and let them rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until they've doubled in size.

While you're waiting, you can prep your crosses. Mix the flour and water together to make a thick paste. Spoon it into a piping bag (or a plastic food bag with one corner snipped off will do the trick). Once the buns have risen, pipe a cross onto each one.

Hot Cross Buns Recipe for the Bread Machine

Bake 'Til You Can't Resist

Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or 400°F. Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes, or until they're golden brown. While they're baking, heat the apricot jam in a small pan with a splash of water. Once the buns are out of the oven, brush the jam over them to give them a lovely glossy finish.

Time to Indulge!

And there you have it! Hot Cross Buns that are almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Grab a bun, spread on some butter, and take a big ol' bite. The perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and fruity - it's like a party in your mouth!

So, what are you waiting for? Get baking, and remember - sharing is caring. Unless you're like me and you've already eaten half the batch. Oops!

Happy baking, my friend! Until next time, keep your oven on and your spirits high. You're a baking rockstar!