Ingredients

(Makes 12 buns)

Buns

1 cup milk

2 tsp dried yeast

2 medium size eggs

¼ cup sugar

½ tsp salt

150g butter, melted

4 ½ cups flour

1 Tbsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp vanilla paste

1 cup choc chips or roughly chopped chocolate

OR ½ cup golden raisins & ½ cup sultanas

Crosses

¼ cup flour

¼ tsp sugar

¼ tsp baking powder

2 ½ - 3 Tbsp cold water

Glaze

¼ cup sugar

3 Tbsp water

½ tsp vanilla paste

Prep It

Heat milk in a small pot until lukewarm but not hot! Remove from heat, sprinkle over yeast and leave for about 3 mins to dissolve and foam.

In a large bowl or bowl of mixer whisk together eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla and melted butter. Once yeast has foamed stir into egg mixture.

Add flour, mixed spice and cinnamon and mix well.

Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth for 8-10 minutes. Alternatively, knead in a mixer with a dough hook for 8-10 minutes.

Knead chocolate or fruit, until combined.

Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a clean tea towel. Leave to rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, until doubled in size. Alternatively, leave in the fridge overnight.

Roll It

Preheat oven to 170°C.

When risen, divide into 12 even balls and place on a lined oven tray so they are almost touching. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough balls are touching each other.

Bake It

Whisk cross ingredients together until smooth. Place in a piping bag and cut a small hole. Pipe crosses on the buns.

Bake buns for about 30 minutes, until golden and cooked through. A knife inserted should come out clean.

While buns cook make glaze. Combine sugar, water and vanilla in a small pot and bring to the boil. Once boiling remove from heat. Brush buns as soon as they come out of oven.

Eat It!

Hot with slices of butter cut so thick it looks like cheese!