Tag: yeast

Quick Hot Cross Buns

Quick Hot Cross Buns

Grace
Soft, Warm & gently Buttered

About this Recipe:

  • Soft rolls with slightly browned tops
  • Subtle cinnamon, nutmeg, and optional raisins flavours
  • Makes 12 medium rolls
  • Quick recipe only 1 hour rest/rise time
The Method: A Quick Guide

The Dough: Firstly, in one large bowl the yeast and warm milk are combined and set to rest for 5 mins until frothy (pictured below) then the butter, flour, salt and baking powder get added to form a dough.

The Knead: With dough now made, it just needs to be kneaded for 8-9 mins wth the addition of flour as needed until an elastic like dough forms where your hands print bounces back (pictured).

The Rest: placed back in the bowl the dough now rests for 1 hour. Then it gets rolled out in-to 12 roughly equal balls.

The Cross: The flour cross is made then put in a piping bag and piped onto each bun only after a gentle egg wash has been brushed on.

Bake and Enjoy! baked for ~20 mins and topped with butter, these buns are warm and delicious!

The Recipe:

Prep timeBake timeRest time
15 mins~20 mins 1 hour + 5 mins
Yields:12 medium buns

Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients:

The Dough

  • ¾ cup warm milk (whole or 2 %)
  • 3 tablespoons butter *melted*
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
  • ¾ cup raisins (optional)

The Cross piping

  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons milk

Procedure:

Firstly the dough is made by combining the yeast and sugar in a large bowl and gently mixing it with warm (but not piping hot) milk. Cover and briefly let rest for 5 mins until frothy.

Next the dough is made by adding flour, salt, cinnamon, raisins, and the egg.

Once a ball of dough appears, place it on a floured surface and add flour as needed for the 8-9 mins of kneading. The dough should be elastic and bounce back to the touch after the 8-9 mins of kneading. The dough now goes back in the bowl to rest for 1 hour with the towel as a cover.

Once done resting, the dough is separated into 12 equal balls and ready for a gentle egg wash (optional but recommended for brown tops!)

Now for the cross piping. In a bowl combine the water, icing sugar, vanilla, and milk then place in a piping bag and snip off the tip. Pipe a cross on each bun and they are ready fro the oven!

Bake at 375 Degrees F for ~ 20 mins.

Once out of the oven spread with butter and enjoy!

Happy Baking!

Star Bread: oozing with flavour

Star Bread: oozing with flavour

Grace

Sweet Strawberry jam oozing out of soft pull apart bread. Sounds good to me! Star bread is a lovely bread to display on your counter and it truly invites you to go on and pull off a twist! Whether it’s jam or Nutella, or even cinnamon sugar the possibilities are endless. Happy Baking!

The Method

A quick overview of the steps: More detailed in the Recipe itself

  1. The dough: This dough recipe is a very simple one that anyone can master. However, it does take patience. With yeast, sugar, milk ,butter, egg and flour, it can be whipped up pretty quick! however, the importance is the rising. This dough will need 90-120 mins to rise.
  2. Rolling out layers: In order to achieve layers of filling (jam, Nutella, cinnamon etc) we have to roll out 4 discs of dough like mini pizza being spread with pizza sauce. Except we will be using filling not sauce 🙂 After, we will stack all four discs.
  3. The cut and twist: This part gets a little messier as the filling oozes, but fear not! it’s super fun . In the centre of the stacked and filing spread dough, we will place a cup to make a circle ring in the centre as a reference for equal length strips. We will then cut 16 strips and twist them to make 8 peaks of the star shape.
  4. The egg wash: brush with egg wash and bake! Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Tips to consider:

Jam filled !
  • Filling with jam, Nutella, or a spread that is slightly sticky, try to make sure not to overfill. A good way to ensure you do not spread too much on each dough layer is to leave a ring of untouched dough around each disc.
  • When filling try not to leave excess filling on the bottom, otherwise it may burn or stick to the pan/parchment. I suggest wiping up any that fell before putting in he oven 🙂
  • Be sure to use an egg-wash or buttermilk for those crisp edges. If you choose not to. it will turn out nice as well. It will just be a sightly softer bread.
prep timebake time total time
~2 30 mins *includes rising~30 mins~3 hours
Serves 8

The Recipe

Star Bread : Jam filled

Ingredients:

The dough:

  • 2 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temp.
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour + more for rolling later
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

ideas: jam, jelly, Nutella, cinnamon, savoury cheese scallion, etc.

  • Remember the EGG WASH!

Procedure

Step 1) Make the dough.

In a large bowl place the yeast and sugar and warm the milk in a saucepan until just before it simmers/boils or in the microwave for about 40-45 seconds. pour the warm milk onto the yeat and sugar and cover with a towl for 5-7 mins. it should look frothy once done.

Step 2)

Add the butter, flour, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. You can use your hands or a mixer with a dough hook attachment to mix all the ingredients together until well combined. If it seems quite sticky an additional couple Tablespoons of flour can be added. Not too much!

Step 3)

Cover the dough with a towel and let it rise for 90-120 minutes until it has doubled in size. A nice place for the dough is in the oven on a very low temperature such as “keep warm” or 150 degrees F. After preheated turn the temperature off and the warmth will still linger inside ! perfect temperature for dough! On the kitchen counter works as well.

Step 4)

The filling and assembling:

Take the dough and split it into 4 equal balls. On a lightly floured surface roll the balls out into equal size discs as best you can. Spread your filling on each as if spreading pizza sauce on mini pizzas! now, stack each disc on-top of each-other into a pile. place a glass in the center and make a subtle indent so you can see where the center is to ensure the strips being cut are roughly the same length. First, cut four equal sections around the center. next, cut those all in half, making 8 strips. finally, cut each of those in half, ending with 16 strips. Now, take two strips at a time and twist them opposite. One cockwise, the other counterclockwise, meeting at the end and pinch them together. Repeat until there are 8 peaks to your star bread! 🙂

Step 5)

Brush with egg wash and finish with course sugar.

Step 6)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F (170 C) and bake for 25-30 mins

Powder sugar. Serve. Enjoy!

  • Strawberry Jam Filled
  • Raspberry Jam filled

Star Bread: oozing with flavour

Star Bread: oozing with flavour

Grace

Sweet Strawberry jam oozing out of soft pull apart bread. Sounds good to me! Star bread is a lovely bread to display on your counter and it truly invites you to go on and pull off a twist! Whether it’s jam or Nutella, or even cinnamon sugar the possibilities are endless. Happy Baking!

The Method

A quick overview of the steps: More detailed in the Recipe itself

  1. The dough: This dough recipe is a very simple one that anyone can master. However, it does take patience. With yeast, sugar, milk ,butter, egg and flour, it can be whipped up pretty quick! however, the importance is the rising. This dough will need 90-120 mins to rise.
  2. Rolling out layers: In order to achieve layers of filling (jam, Nutella, cinnamon etc) we have to roll out 4 discs of dough like mini pizza being spread with pizza sauce. Except we will be using filling not sauce 🙂 After, we will stack all four discs.
  3. The cut and twist: This part gets a little messier as the filling oozes, but fear not! it’s super fun . In the centre of the stacked and filing spread dough, we will place a cup to make a circle ring in the centre as a reference for equal length strips. We will then cut 16 strips and twist them to make 8 peaks of the star shape.
  4. The egg wash: brush with egg wash and bake! Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Tips to consider:

Jam filled !
  • Filling with jam, Nutella, or a spread that is slightly sticky, try to make sure not to overfill. A good way to ensure you do not spread too much on each dough layer is to leave a ring of untouched dough around each disc.
  • When filling try not to leave excess filling on the bottom, otherwise it may burn or stick to the pan/parchment. I suggest wiping up any that fell before putting in he oven 🙂
  • Be sure to use an egg-wash or buttermilk for those crisp edges. If you choose not to. it will turn out nice as well. It will just be a sightly softer bread.
prep timebake time total time
~2 30 mins *includes rising~30 mins~3 hours
Serves 8

The Recipe

Star Bread : Jam filled

Ingredients:

The dough:

  • 2 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temp.
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour + more for rolling later
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

ideas: jam, jelly, Nutella, cinnamon, savoury cheese scallion, etc.

  • Remember the EGG WASH!

Procedure

Step 1) Make the dough.

In a large bowl place the yeast and sugar and warm the milk in a saucepan until just before it simmers/boils or in the microwave for about 40-45 seconds. pour the warm milk onto the yeat and sugar and cover with a towl for 5-7 mins. it should look frothy once done.

Step 2)

Add the butter, flour, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. You can use your hands or a mixer with a dough hook attachment to mix all the ingredients together until well combined. If it seems quite sticky an additional couple Tablespoons of flour can be added. Not too much!

Step 3)

Cover the dough with a towel and let it rise for 90-120 minutes until it has doubled in size. A nice place for the dough is in the oven on a very low temperature such as “keep warm” or 150 degrees F. After preheated turn the temperature off and the warmth will still linger inside ! perfect temperature for dough! On the kitchen counter works as well.

Step 4)

The filling and assembling:

Take the dough and split it into 4 equal balls. On a lightly floured surface roll the balls out into equal size discs as best you can. Spread your filling on each as if spreading pizza sauce on mini pizzas! now, stack each disc on-top of each-other into a pile. place a glass in the center and make a subtle indent so you can see where the center is to ensure the strips being cut are roughly the same length. First, cut four equal sections around the center. next, cut those all in half, making 8 strips. finally, cut each of those in half, ending with 16 strips. Now, take two strips at a time and twist them opposite. One cockwise, the other counterclockwise, meeting at the end and pinch them together. Repeat until there are 8 peaks to your star bread! 🙂

Step 5)

Brush with egg wash and finish with course sugar.

Step 6)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F (170 C) and bake for 25-30 mins

Powder sugar. Serve. Enjoy!

  • Strawberry Jam Filled
  • Raspberry Jam filled

Classic Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Classic Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Grace

Your mouth will start to drool as these Cinnamon Rolls bake ! Truly a classic recipe that will impress the picky eaters as well as the sweet tooth eaters! Cinnamon, Browns sugar, butter, and that sweet sweet glaze, What’s not to love! So, Thrown on that apron and let’s get baking 🙂

The Method:

This recipe has a few crucial steps that are simply enough to master and create Classic Cinnamon buns just as you like them!

  1. The dough. It is so very important to allow the dough time to to rise and “set up” before you roll, spread, and cut into it. Moreover, please do not cut the time allotted for the dough to rise.

2. Kneading the dough. You will be amazed to see how the feeling of the dough will transform in only a few minutes of kneading, or allowing the stand mix to knead for you 🙂 The elasticity rebounds and the dough becomes a more smooth and workable dough after kneading. The key word: workable. We will be rolling the dough out, and therefore want it to become easy to maneuver. Kneading is your friend.

3.Roll and sprinkle. Here comes the fun! After all the rest and prep the dough is ready to be rolled, buttered, and cinnamon sugared. While rolling out the dough, it is at it’s largest once you can no longer roll and it starts to slink back. Note: The butter spread on the rolled out dough will see a lot. I assure you, the tase is worth the absorbent amount!

4.The slice. The part is pure magic! Seeing those cinnamon brown sugar swirls is just lovely. Tip: If you prefer larger rolls roll up the dough starting from the shorter end. (Ex) if it is ~14×9 inch larger rolls would be starting the roll up from the 9 inch side) Or more but smaller rolls would be starting the roll from the (14 inch side)

5. The last rise. Once cut and placed in the baking dish/pan, it is wise to let the rolls rise fro a further 20 mins. I have done this in the past and other times not, but find there is only slight difference. If you have the patience it is best, but not absolutely crucial !

6. Bake. Glaze. Enjoy

The Recipe:

Classic Cinnamon Rolls

Prep timeBake time Total Time
2 hrs~30-35 mins~2 30 mins
Yields 12 Medium or 8 Large rolls

Ingredients:

For The Dough:

  • 3/4 cup Warm milk (whole milk 2%)
  • 2 1/4 tsp quick rise or active yeast
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cups flour + extra for dusting and rolling
  • 3/4 tsp salt

For the Filling:

  • 2/3 light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 0z cream cheese
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

OR Glaze Icing

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1-2 Tbsp water

Procedure:

Step 1)

Warm the milk so that it is warm but not too hot. This can be done in the microwave for ~40-45 seconds. This can also be done in a saucepan. The milk is perfect when small bubbles form, but it is not foamy over. Add the warm milk to a large bowl ( or stand mixer bowl if you have one) with the yeast. Add the sugar, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Mix until combined. Once done, add the flour and salt and mix until Dough starts to take a ball like shape.

Step 2)

Kneading the dough: Using a stand mixer you can add the attachment and knead for 8 minutes on medium. Or use your hands and knead for 8-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface. You will need to add flour as you knead ( It will be sticky). Do not fear adding flour as you knead.

Step 3)

Let it rise: Place the dough into a large bowl and cover with a tea towel. It will need 1 1/2 – 2 hours to rise (or once doubled in size) however, it can sit longer. A nice humid place for it to rise is in the oven on a super low temperature such as “keep Warm” or 150-175 degrees.

Step 4)

Now, Roll the dough on a floured surface into a ~14×9 inch rectangle. Spread the butter on the rectangle like spreading butter on bread. Leave a smaller un-butter frame around the edges. Sprinkle the cinnamon filling evenly all over in the same spots as the butter.

Step 5)

Roll up the dough: Start from the longer side (14 inch) if you want more but smaller rolls. Or start from the smaller (9inch) side if you want less but larger rolls 🙂 Slice and place in greased or parchment lined pan.

Step 6)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden as you desire 🙂 Let cool for 5 mins . Enjoy!

The Cream Cheese Frosting or Glaze

Steps)

For either recipe mix all ingredients in the order they are listed. mix until clumps are gone.

*note: icing often has different consistencies based on preference. More or less water may be needed for desired thicknesses*

Classic Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Classic Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Grace

Your mouth will start to drool as these Cinnamon Rolls bake ! Truly a classic recipe that will impress the picky eaters as well as the sweet tooth eaters! Cinnamon, Browns sugar, butter, and that sweet sweet glaze, What’s not to love! So, Thrown on that apron and let’s get baking 🙂

The Method:

This recipe has a few crucial steps that are simply enough to master and create Classic Cinnamon buns just as you like them!

  1. The dough. It is so very important to allow the dough time to to rise and “set up” before you roll, spread, and cut into it. Moreover, please do not cut the time allotted for the dough to rise.

2. Kneading the dough. You will be amazed to see how the feeling of the dough will transform in only a few minutes of kneading, or allowing the stand mix to knead for you 🙂 The elasticity rebounds and the dough becomes a more smooth and workable dough after kneading. The key word: workable. We will be rolling the dough out, and therefore want it to become easy to maneuver. Kneading is your friend.

3.Roll and sprinkle. Here comes the fun! After all the rest and prep the dough is ready to be rolled, buttered, and cinnamon sugared. While rolling out the dough, it is at it’s largest once you can no longer roll and it starts to slink back. Note: The butter spread on the rolled out dough will see a lot. I assure you, the tase is worth the absorbent amount!

4.The slice. The part is pure magic! Seeing those cinnamon brown sugar swirls is just lovely. Tip: If you prefer larger rolls roll up the dough starting from the shorter end. (Ex) if it is ~14×9 inch larger rolls would be starting the roll up from the 9 inch side) Or more but smaller rolls would be starting the roll from the (14 inch side)

5. The last rise. Once cut and placed in the baking dish/pan, it is wise to let the rolls rise fro a further 20 mins. I have done this in the past and other times not, but find there is only slight difference. If you have the patience it is best, but not absolutely crucial !

6. Bake. Glaze. Enjoy

The Recipe:

Classic Cinnamon Rolls

Prep timeBake time Total Time
2 hrs~30-35 mins~2 30 mins
Yields 12 Medium or 8 Large rolls

Ingredients:

For The Dough:

  • 3/4 cup Warm milk (whole milk 2%)
  • 2 1/4 tsp quick rise or active yeast
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cups flour + extra for dusting and rolling
  • 3/4 tsp salt

For the Filling:

  • 2/3 light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 0z cream cheese
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

OR Glaze Icing

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1-2 Tbsp water

Procedure:

Step 1)

Warm the milk so that it is warm but not too hot. This can be done in the microwave for ~40-45 seconds. This can also be done in a saucepan. The milk is perfect when small bubbles form, but it is not foamy over. Add the warm milk to a large bowl ( or stand mixer bowl if you have one) with the yeast. Add the sugar, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Mix until combined. Once done, add the flour and salt and mix until Dough starts to take a ball like shape.

Step 2)

Kneading the dough: Using a stand mixer you can add the attachment and knead for 8 minutes on medium. Or use your hands and knead for 8-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface. You will need to add flour as you knead ( It will be sticky). Do not fear adding flour as you knead.

Step 3)

Let it rise: Place the dough into a large bowl and cover with a tea towel. It will need 1 1/2 – 2 hours to rise (or once doubled in size) however, it can sit longer. A nice humid place for it to rise is in the oven on a super low temperature such as “keep Warm” or 150-175 degrees.

Step 4)

Now, Roll the dough on a floured surface into a ~14×9 inch rectangle. Spread the butter on the rectangle like spreading butter on bread. Leave a smaller un-butter frame around the edges. Sprinkle the cinnamon filling evenly all over in the same spots as the butter.

Step 5)

Roll up the dough: Start from the longer side (14 inch) if you want more but smaller rolls. Or start from the smaller (9inch) side if you want less but larger rolls 🙂 Slice and place in greased or parchment lined pan.

Step 6)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden as you desire 🙂 Let cool for 5 mins . Enjoy!

The Cream Cheese Frosting or Glaze

Steps)

For either recipe mix all ingredients in the order they are listed. mix until clumps are gone.

*note: icing often has different consistencies based on preference. More or less water may be needed for desired thicknesses*