Hot Cross Buns

You can't beat the smell of hot cross buns baking in the oven.
While you can easily find vegan hot cross buns in the supermarket, there's nothing like making your own.
Plus these can be frozen and eaten any time of the year, not just at Easter.

Original recipe from Bitofthegoodstuff.com

Ingredients:

Dough -
1 cup soy milk
1 tsp easy bake yeast
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 and 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp salt
4 tsp mixed spice
1/2 cup sultanas
1/4 cup orange or apple juice

Crosses -
3 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp water

Glaze - 
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp orange or apple juice


Gently heat the milk until it's lukewarm. Remove from heat and whisk in yeast and sugar, keep whisking for a couple minutes until the yeast froths.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, spices and sultanas.
Make a well in the centre of the bowl and stir in oil, yeast milk mixture and juice. When mixed, use your hands to form a dough, which should be soft and sticky.

Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, until dough is smooth.
Place the dough in a well oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling film and a towel and place in a warm area of your house for an hour or until it had doubled in size.

When the dough has risen, knead for a few more minutes and divide into 12 equal sized balls. Roll the dough into smooth balls using your hands and place on a large baking tray covered with greaseproof paper.
Cover tray with oiled cling film and tea towel and leave in a warm place for 45 minutes or until risen.
Pre-heat oven to gas 7/210c/410f

To make the crosses, mix the flour with water until you have a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag and pipe along your risen buns in lines til you have crosses.
Place in the oven for 15 minutes or til golden brown.

To make the glaze, boil the sugar and juice in a small pan until it thickens into a syrup, then brush over the buns when out the oven and still warm. Allow to set before serving.

Slice your buns and toast, then spread with a generous amount of vegan spread and enjoy.

Buns can be frozen and will last 3 days in an airtight container.