A Good Friday...

Hot Cross Buns! Luxury!

Recipe mostly from Vegan Dad (who should be any vegan's go-to guy for bread recipes), modified mostly by including candied peel and a paste cross, both of which are favourites of mine. We didn't have any currants, and had hardly any sultanas, so I bulked the fruit content out with dried blueberries, which were just as delicious. Went so easily in the breadmaker that we had time to carry down the massive load of firewood that arrived at the top of our path.

Ingredients

Buns
- 1 cup warm soy milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp instant or active dry yeast
- 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
- 5 Tbsp warm water
- 2 Tbsp orange juice
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup melted margarine, or oil
- zest of 1 orange
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3/4 cup sultanas and dried blueberries
- 1/4 cup candied mixed peel
- soy milk for brushing

Cross
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup flour

Glaze
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar

Method

1. Mix sugar, soy milk, and yeast together in a large bowl. Let sit until yeast is hydrated (about 1 min for instant yeast, a few mins for active dry).
2. In a separate small bowl, mix flax seed and water together. Let sit for 1 min to hydrate, then whisk until thickened. Whisk in orange juice, then add to soy milk mixture.
3. Add 3 1/2 cups of flour, spices, margarine, and zests and bring into a dough, adding more liquid or flour as needed. The dough should be firm but still tacky. Knead on a lightly floured surface (or in a stand mixer) for 5-8 mins, until smooth, kneading in the fruit and peel right at the end.
4. Place in an oiled bowl, turning dough to coat, cover, and let rise until doubled (1 to 1.5 hours).
5. Grease a baking sheet. Roll dough into a log roughly the shape of a baguette. Use scissors to cut into 12 rounds. Put on baking tray, with buns touching one another.
6. For cross, put flour and water in a zip-lock bag. Seal and knead into a smooth paste. Cut a hole in the corner of the bag and pipe crosses onto the buns. Let rise until about doubled (30-45 mins). Preheat oven to 200.
7. Brush buns with soy milk and bake for 15-17 mins, until a deep golden brown.
8. While buns are baking, bring glaze ingredients to bubbling over medium heat in a small saucepan. When buns come out of the oven, brush with glaze. Let sit for 1 min, then brush with glaze again. Let cool in the pan.