Guyanese Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

• 1 pound plain white flour
• 1 level teaspoon salt
• 1 ounce yeast
• 4 ounces sugar
• 6 ounces preserved fruit
• 2 ounces margarine
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 level teaspoon spice

Procedures

1. Warm milk to body temperature.
2. Cream yeast and one ounce sugar in a bowl (except when using instant yeast).
3. Add warm milk and beaten egg.
4. Sift flour onto a plate, add salt and spice and rub in margarine.
5. Mix flour into yeast.
6. Turn dough onto a clean floured surface and knead to a smooth pliable dough.
7. Put to rise.
8. When dough is risen, knock back dough, and sprinkle in the last ounce of sugar and the preserved fruit.
9. Adding sugar at this stage helps to give the baked bun a crispy texture.
10. Cut dough in 12 even sized pieces and roll into round balls.
11. Put onto a greased baking tray and prove a second time.
12. Make a cross by cutting the top of the balls with a knife or use piece of dough to make a cross.
13. Bake in a hot oven, 400°F to 425°F or gas mark 7 for around 30 minutes.
14. After buns are done, brush tops with cold water glaze made with two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of water.