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Easter Hot Cross Bun Spelt Rolls

Course: Snack
Cuisine: British
Servings: 12 buns

Ingredients

Dough (see note 1)

  • 300ml (1¼ cups) milk
  • 40g (⅛ cup) butter
  • 1 egg
  • zest of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • pinch of saffron
  • 500g (4 cups + 2 tbs) spelt flour (see note 2)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 14g (4 tsp) dried yeast (see note 3)
  • 75g (⅓ cup) sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons mixed spice

Filling

  • 50g (¼ cup) butter (melted)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 100g (3½ oz) sultanas

Topping

  • 2 tablespoons golden or medium light syrup

Instructions

Bread Machine:

  • Add the milk, butter, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and saffron to your bread machine pan. Then add the remaining dough ingredients. Take care to keep the yeast and salt separate as much as possible. Set your machine to make dough.
  • On a very well-floured surface (the dough will be very sticky) work in just as much flour as you need to make a soft, pliable, but still a little tacky, dough.

Stand Mixer:

  • Mix the milk, butter, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice and saffron together in your stand mixer bowl. If the butter is straight out of the fridge, it won't combine with the other wet ingredients too much, but that's okay.
  • Then add the remaining dough ingredients.The dough should be sticky, but if you need more flour, just add a little at a time. Be careful: too much flour will result in dry bread.
  • Switch to a dough hook (if you have one) and allow the mixer to knead the dough for around 10 minutes, just until soft. The dough will still feel a little tacky to the touch, but will be able to slowly drop off the hook.
  • Cover the dough and leave to proof (until it has doubled in size - usually about an hour).
  • When the dough is ready, knock it back, and on a floured surface, form into a rough ball.

Both Methods:

  • Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a large rectangle (around 40x50cm) with one of the shorter sides facing you. The dough is very elastic and will bounce back (this is a good sign).

Assembly:

  • Mix the butter, lemon juice and brown sugar together.
  • Spread the filling evenly across the dough with a knife (there will not be enough to fill every inch of the dough but you don't need it to).
  • Sprinkle the sultanas over the dough.
  • With the shorter side in front of you carefully roll the dough, making sure you pull it tight as you go.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut the dough roll into slices (you should get 12 buns, depending on how big your slices are).
  • Pinch any edges together and use your hands to shape them into circles (they will already be round, but might need a little more shaping).
  • Place them on the baking tray or in a dish quite close together.
  • Cover and let rest for around 20-30 minutes.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 200℃ / 400℉.
  • Bake in the oven for around 20-22 minutes. Make sure they are cooked but don't over-bake them.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool a little.
  • While still warm, brush over the syrup or honey. Enjoy!

Notes

 
  1. I have made the dough using both a stand mixer and bread machine. 
  2. You can use spelt or regular flour for this recipe (just use the same amount).
  3. In Sweden we have something called dried yeast. It is used both in warm liquid to proof and also added directly to flour. I am aware that the US has two options for dried yeast, and I believe dry active yeast is the most similar to our dried yeast.
 
Disclaimer
 
I have converted grams to cups/ounces/tablespoons using online converters. Although I have no reason to believe they are inaccurate, please be aware that I have not made the recipe with imperial measurements.
 
In addition, many ingredients are different in Europe compared to North America. I do all I can to offer possible alternatives and to ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone. However, results cannot always be guaranteed if you have not used the same ingredients, measurements or methods as me.
 
Lastly, I do everything I can to ensure that my recipes (and instructions) are accurate and easy to follow. However, I am human, and don't always get it right. If you notice anything strange, a mistake, or even a typo, please let me know in the comments.