HOT cross buns have always been popular in the run up to Easter but Aldi has produced a recipe for one which really will ‘keep your spirits up’ during these testing times.
Forget sultanas and cinnamon, this year the magic ingredient for your perfect Easter bun is Aldi’s award-winning Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum (£14.99, 70cl).
The amalgamation of rich flavours that the inclusion of rum offers makes these buns perfect for sharing.
There will be cheers, as well as the booze, when these come out the oven.
And for an extra zing, you can add in some orange zest, to perfectly complement the rum’s warming spices.
Ingredients
(Makes 16)
300ml Whole Milk
50g British Unsalted Butter
575g Plain Flour
Table Salt
75g Caster Sugar
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 Organic Egg
Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum
1 Orange
75g Sultanas
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 tbsp Golden Syrup
Method
Boil 300ml of milk on a low heat
In a separate pan, place 50g of butter over a low heat until melted
Add the warmed milk and melted butter into a bowl, mix and leave to cool until mixture reaches room temperature
Separately, mix 500g of flour, 1 tsp of salt, 75g of caster sugar and 1sp of baking powder into a bowl
Pour in the warm milk and butter mixture and add 1 beaten egg
Add in a splash of Aldi’s Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum (be as generous as you wish!)
Combine the ingredients together to form a sticky dough and place onto a floured surface
Knead until the mixture becomes smooth and springy and then place the dough into a flour-covered bowl
Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hour until the mixture has doubled in size
Once the dough has risen, place the mixture back onto a floured surface
Tip in 75g of sultanas, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon and grated orange zest (optional), and knead this into the dough
Divide the dough into 16 squares and on a floured surface, roll these squares into balls
Line these balls onto a baking tray and cover with a damp tea towel to allow the balls to prove for an additional hour until they have doubled in size
Add 5 tbsp of water, 1 tbsp at a time, to 75g of plain flour to make the paste for the cross
Use this mixture to then pipe two lines across the top of the buns to make a cross on each, using a piping bag or a spoon
Place the buns in the oven at 200c/gas 7 for 20 minutes
Melt 2 tbsp of golden syrup in a pan and brush over the top of the buns whilst they’re still warm
Set aside to cool on a wire rack