Easy homemade chocolate hot cross buns assembled in a pull apart wreath is the perfect way to celebrate Easter. Extra chocolate chips make it super special too
Ingredients
1 cup milk
1/2 cup Western Star Thickened Cream (see Tips), plus extra, whipped, to serve
2 1/2 teaspoons instant dried yeast
1/3 cup caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra
4 cups plain flour
1/2 cup Dutch cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
80g Western Star Chef’s Choice Unsalted Cultured Butter (see Tips)
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 egg, whisked
Extra 1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon gelatine
Extra 1 tablespoon caster sugar
Western Star Spreadable Original or Western Star Thickened Cream, whipped, to serve
Method
Combine milk and cream in a small saucepan over a medium heat for 4 minutes or until luke warm . Pour mixture into a jug. Add yeast and extra 1 teaspoon sugar. Whisk with a fork until combined. Stand in a warm place for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Stir through salt and remaining sugar. Using your fingertips, rub Butter into flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir through chocolate chips . Add yeast mixture and egg. Stir until well combined and a soft dough forms.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-8 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough into a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Stand in a warm place for 40 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Punch dough down and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes, then divide into 4 pieces. Shape into a rough log and cut to make 19 equal-sized pieces. Gently knead each portion into a bun and place sealed side down. Place 1 bun in the centre of prepared tray. Arrange 6 buns around the centre bun, then the remaining buns around to make 2 concentric circles. Stand in a warm place for 20 minutes or until well risen and buns puff up against each other.
Sift extra flour in a small bowl. Stir in the water until a smooth paste forms. Spoon mixture into a piping bag fitted with a small plain 3mm tip. Pipe crosses on each bun, lining up the crosses to form a pattern on the pull-apart buns. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until crosses are lightly golden, buns are well risen and cooked through.
Meanwhile, just before the buns are finished cooking, combine gelatine, extra sugar and 1 tablespoon boiling water in a small bowl. Brush mixture over buns while still hot. Transfer buns to a wire rack to cool or serve warm with Western Star Spreadable Original or whipped Thickened Cream.
Tips & Hints
The cream creates a richer hot cross bun, however you can substitute this with milk if you prefer.
You can also use Western Star Spreadable Original in the recipe instead of the Chef’s Choice Unsalted Cultured Butter.
VARIATION
Surprise Centre Chocolate Hot Cross Buns: Omit chocolate chips from mixture. Form dough into buns. Push a soft-centred chocolate ball into the centre of each bun. Bake and glaze as above.