Mary Berry shares Easter hot cross bun recipe

Easter is just a month away, and it’s a great time to start preparing special treats. If you want to make hot cross buns, chef Mary Berry has an easy recipe that you can follow. This recipe is designed to be "foolproof," so even beginners can succeed. To prepare the hot cross buns, you will need 12 ingredients, plus two for the topping. The main ingredients include flour, sugar, spices, salt, yeast, butter, milk, an egg, and candied peel. The topping requires plain flour and golden syrup for glazing. Start by mixing the flour, sugar, spices, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Then, add salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl. Melt the butter and milk, and add these to the dry mixture along with the egg. Use your hands to combine everything into a soft dough. After that, knead in sultanas and candied peel until the dough is smooth. Next, place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour and a half, until it doubles in size. Punch it down, knead it again for five minutes, and let it rise once more in the covered bowl. Once the dough has risen again, divide it into 12 pieces and shape them into balls. Place them on baking trays lined with paper. Cover again and let them rise until doubled in size. Preheat your oven and prepare the cross by mixing flour and water into a paste. Once they have risen, pipe the cross onto each bun using an icing bag. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. After baking, brush them with melted golden syrup for a shiny finish. Although the recipe may seem long, it doesn’t require much hands-on time, allowing you to multitask as you bake. Enjoy your fresh hot cross buns on Easter!