Comments on: Hot Cross Buns 2

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:23:45 +0000

Hi Chilli mama,
It sounds like the yeast was a bit dead or inactive? This does sometimes happen, and if you want to check it next time before you make the dough you can add some of the sugar and a little of the warm milk mixture to the yeast powder, cover and leave for 10 minutes. It should get really bubbly and frothy. If it does then it’s all good, just add to the dry mix with the rest of the liquid. If it doesn’t then it’s a bad batch and you need to try again. How annoying, after all that kneading!

By: Chilli.Walter

Chilli.Walter — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:42:28 +0000

Yikes! They turned out more like rock buns. The texture of mine were really cakey, maybe I should mix flours? the other thing is, they smelt yeasty but my yeast didn’t really give the dough a lot of rise. I kept waiting for that stage where you said ‘punch it back’ and there wasn’t all that much to punch at all. I don’t get it, it is 30C here at night. What could it have been? Anyway, the process was quite labour intensive, as I was kneading by hand so I think I will wait till next Easter to give this another try.

By: Chilli.Walter

Chilli.Walter — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:49:58 +0000

Thanks a lot for doing this and for sharing the method you used. I am actually in the middle of making a batch now. I have combined bits of a few different recipes to make mine but I have heeded all your tips, so fingers crossed they work out nicely. I will post a picture if they do.

By: Catie

Catie — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:46:01 +0000

Fantastic! I might take some ingredients with me to the UK on Thursday and get my friend (who is an uneducated but interested cook) baking with me