It’s Hot Cross Bun week and I confess I got a bit tired of rolling buns and crossing them. In a fit of lethargy I decided to make a braided Hot Cross Bun loaf instead.
It’s fantastic and, like challah, perfect for breaking up by hand and sharing, covered with butter for eating of course! To make it, I followed the hot cross bun recipe here. After the first rise, I divided the dough into three equal parts and braided it. Have a look here to see a little video on how to plait a loaf. Then, I covered it and let it rise again for 45 minutes.
I brushed on some beaten egg and scatter almonds over the whole. Then I baked it for 45 minutes at 200 degrees. If yours is getting a bit too brown for your liking and/or the raisins are burning, cover it with baking parchment part of the way through.
Come and taking a baking class with us and learn more and, if you like this recipe, there are more just like it in All You Knead Is Bread and The Book of Buns.