'Not' Cross Buns
Because every body can celebrate smiles at Easter ... no matter of you personal path ~ religion ~ place ~ thoughts! I wanted to mix up festive treats to share with all selves & souls this Springtime, embracing the blossom & sunshine this blissful season leads us to follow. So, these little 'not' cross buns aren't about suffering ~ every body deserves to smile!
I usually like to find less widely used ~ more natural ingredients for my baking but this time I've kept my bowl simple. Using ingredients I bet nearly every vegan home has stashed in their cupboards, these little buns are so smiley because they're just waiting to be mixed up! I've added my all time favourite everyday tastes & textures that comfort me midday to midnight ~ Oatly mylk, Vitalite sunflower spread & Whitworths dried fruits (their raisins & sultanas & figs & apricots are SO juicy!).
Hot crossies & teacakes are my (palms down) favourritteeeee so I long for Springtime & their fruity appearance. Little buns toasted until crispy golden then juggled piping hot in hungry fingers & smothered with Vitalite for juicy currants & soft, warm dough to soak up all the buttery goodness. This recipe makes around a dozen (or up to 16 if you'd like little smiles!) ... they're best eaten fresh or within the first couple of days. But if you have a few leftover & they seem a little stale, either toast or pop in the microwave for 5 seconds ~ this little trick makes them taste like they're freshly baked!
'Not' Cross Buns
Serves: a baker's dozen -16
Prep time: around 2-3 hrs
Cook time: 15-20 mins
Total time: around 3 hrs
Ingredients:
520g wholemeal flour, sifted
200ml Oatly organic whole mylk
100ml water
100g Vitalite sunflower spread
1tsp salt
2 sachets dry active instant yeast
1tbsp organic coconut sugar
1 large orange, zest & juice
200g Whitworths Juice Locked Raisins
100g Whitworths Sunshine Sultanas
2tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp ground nutmeg
1tsp ground mixed spice
Iced Smiles:
4tbsp icing sugar
4tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
Method:
In a large bowl, gently mix the sifted flour with the salt ~ yeast ~ sugar ~ orange zest ~ spices.
Now, slowly warm the mylk in a pan until just hot (not bubbling!). Remove from the heat & stir in the Vitalite, water & orange juice & leave to melt.
Gradually mix the mylk mixture into the flour until combined.
Sprinkle a surface with flour & knead the dough gently for around 8-10 mins. Pop the ball back into the bowl & leave to rest until double in size (around 1-2 hrs).
Next, flour a surface & very gently knead the dough ONLY a few times WHILE sprinkling with the dried fruits ~ just until the raisins & sultanas are evenly spread.
Divide the dough into 12-16 balls then place on a greaseproof lined tray.
Preheat the oven to 200'C & cover the tray with a tea towel. Leave the buns to rest next to the warm oven for around 45 mins.
Bake for 15-20 mins until golden then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Mix the orange icing & adorn your buns with smiles!
Share your smiles with loved ones & a big dollop of sunflower spread.
