Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns

600gms White Bread Flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tspns dried yeast

2 tspns bread improver

100gms softened butter

1 egg

320mls milk

1/2 tspn salt

1 tspn cinnamon

1 tspn mixed spice

Finely grated rind of 1 orange

1 cup sultanas

Crosses

100gms plain flour

1/2 cup water

Glaze

55gms caster sugar

1/2 tspn mixed spice

1/2 tspn cinnamon

1/4 cup water

Pre-heat your oven to 220C

Place all ingredients into bread machine and set on 'dough', once it is ready remove the dough, knock it down (place dough mix onto bench and give it a little hit with your hand to knock the air out of it), ten work in the sultanas.  Cut into 16 pieces and shape into balls, using a rectangular or square cake pan, place the balls evenly - allowing some space from the sides so all buns can grow at the same rate.  Put in a warm place for 30 mins until doubled in size.  Mix the plain flour and water together to make the crosses until it forms a smooth mix about the consistency of toothpaste, place this into a piping bag or tube and pipe on the crosses.  Bake until deep golden brown and cooked through (test with a skewer), approx. 25 mins.  Whilst they are cooking make the glaze, bring ingredients to a soft boil for a few minutes until sugar has melted.  When you take out the buns, brush over the glaze using a pastry brush and allow it soak into the hot buns.  Serve hot with butter.

(You may add mixed peel if you wish, I have used orange rind, to eliminate the need for big chunks of peel, this is a personal choice.)