Vegan Hot Cross Buns

Introduce

Chef :

Sally Strong

Vegan Hot Cross Buns

I am not keen on dried fruit but have discovered recently I do like them in hot cross buns! I wanted to try to make my own vegan recipe and these came out so tasty!

Ingredient

4 Tbsp

Raisins, Sultanas, Currents and Mixed Peel

2 Tablespoons

Cooking instructions

* Step 1

Activate the yeast by combining the warm water with a few teaspoons of sugar. Add the yeast and leave to the side for it to foam and wake up.

* Step 2

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Gently warm up the milk. Put the flour, rest of the sugar, spices and lemon zest in a large bowl and mix together.

* Step 3

Add the butter and half the warm milk to the dry ingredients. Slowly bring together and gradually add more and more milk to the bowl to make a soft pliable dough which is slightly sticky. Add the dried fruit and slowly incorporate.

* Step 4

Tip the dough out onto a clean, floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until it is smooth. Form the dough into a smooth ball and tip into an oiled bowl, cover with a wet tea towel and leave to prove for an 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size.

* Step 5

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knock back. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces and form into balls.

* Step 6

Place the doughballs snugly onto a greased and floured baking tray. Cover with another wet tea towel and leave to prove again for another hour, or until they are doubled in size.

* Step 7

Preheat the oven to gas mark 7. To make the crosses mix the flour and water to make a paste and spoon into a icing bag, or sandwich bag with the corner cut off.

* Step 8

Pipe a cross over each bun. It's easier to do all the lines at once rather than make a cross on each bun itself. Place the buns in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Turn the baking tray around mid-cooking if necessary to make sure they are cooked evenly.