In partnership with Mainland
We put the challenge out there to find NZ’s best hot cross bun recipe. After scouring the country we named Rosie’s recipe the winner, it’s the sweet spicey cardamom that makes it stand our from the crowd. It’s no secret that we recommend spreading some Mainland Buttersoft on these beauties.
Prep time – 90 mins
Cooking time – 30 mins
Makes 12
For the buns
| 4 ¼ cups | high grade flour |
| ½ cups | warm milk |
| 4 tablespoons | raw honey |
| 3 teaspoon | yeast |
| 2 tablespoon | ground cardamom |
| 1 teaspoon | cinnamon |
| 1/2 teaspoon | salt |
| 50g | mainland spreadable buttersoft |
| 1 | egg |
| ¼ cup | orange zest |
| ½ cup | white chocolate bits |
For the crosses
| ½ cup | plain flour |
| ½ teaspoon | baking power |
| 1 tablespoon | sugar |
| 1/3 cup | water |
For the glaze
| ½ cup | sugar |
| 1/3 cup | boiled water |
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Buns
In a bowl mix 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups warm milk, 4 tbsp honey and 3 tsp yeast. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. The result should be like a paste consistency.
Then add the remaining 3 cups flour, cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, Mainland spreadable buttersoft, egg, orange zest and white chocolate to the paste and combine to form a dough. knead for 3 mins and then place the bowl of dough in a warm room to double in size.
Once it has doubled take it out and place on a floured bench and knead for 7 minutes. Add more flour if too sticky. At this point spread out and add the orange zest and white chocolate bits, combine until all mixed in. Allow to sit again in the bowl until it doubles again in size, usually an hour.
Punch the dough down and divide into 12 pieces. Roll the pieces into a ball and place on a lined baking tray 2 cm apart
Allow to rise again, touching each other on the tray is best as they cook well like this.
Crosses
To make the crosses stir all ingredients together and place into a piping bag pipe thin crosses over the top of the buns.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and smelling delicious.
Glaze
Combine the sugar and water in a pot on the stove until the sugar has dissolved
Brush this over the cooked hot cross buns as soon as they come from the oven.
Enjoy straight out of the oven with Mainland Buttersoft.
The Mainland Special Reserve range is available at supermarkets and retailers nationwide. For this and more Mainland recipes to make and share, head to nzherald.co.nz/eatwell
