NAKED GINGER AND SPICE HOT CROSS BUNS
(with or without bread machine)

1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup caster sugar
80 grams soft butter (1/3 cup)
1 egg, beaten
3 1/2 cups plain flour
1 heaped teaspoon bread improver, optional
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
3 teaspoons instant dried yeast

100 grams buderim naked ginger pieces, chopped (uncrystallised
ginger) (1/2 cup)

line a large baking tray with baking paper.

FOR BREAD MACHINE....place everything except the chopped ginger
into the bread machine in the order specified by the
manufacturer. set to dough setting.  add the ginger pieces when
the dough has come together completely. if dough has not
doubled in size when the dough setting finishes, just leave in
the machine until it does. it was cold here today, mine took
longer.

when ready, punch down and tip onto a lightly floured board.

knead a couple of times then divide into 12 equal sized pieces.

roll each piece into a ball and place on the baking tray.

cover tray with a teatowel and place in a warm place to rise
for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

heat oven to 190 c. (375 f.)

pipe crosses onto buns then cook for approx. 25 minutes until
golden.

remove from oven and glaze.

BY HAND....
in a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, rind, cocoa, spices and
2 cups of the flour.

using an electric mixer, beat until smooth. (can use a wooden
spoon also)

stir in remaining flour. if dough is too sticky, add a little
more flour. stir in chopped ginger.

turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and
elastic.

place in a large greased bowl, then turn greased side up.
cover and let rise in a warm place until double, about 1 1/2
hours.

follow rest of the directions for bread machine from punch
down.

CROSSES
6 tablespoons plain flour
1 tablespoon icing sugar
5 1/2 tablespoons water

mix all together till well combined and a smooth thickish
paste. needs to hold shape.


GLAZE

2 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup
1 tablespoon boiling water
     or
2 tablespoons caster sugar
2 tablespoons boiling water

stir together till syrup or sugar is dissolved and brush over
hot buns.

my. creation.