[JaK]

I'm looking for a hot cross bun style loaf recipe (one that will fill a normal size loaf tin), I've been requested to make a couple for a toddler group picnic but don't have a recipe to follow. Any ideas?

[hamstergbert]

This works reasonably well:

60 gm butter (softened for 10-20 secs in the microwave)
300 gm  white bread flour (strong or extra strong)
250 gm wholemeal bread flour
120 gm raisins (if poss, soak overnight in orange juice then drain)
2 (heaped) tsp quick acting dried yeast - the sort that comes in little packets)
200-250 ml semi skimmed milk (pref at room temp)
1 tsp salt (I prefer sea salt)
1 beaten large egg ideally at room temp
1 tsp cinammon, more if you prefer
grated nutmeg - about 1/4 of a nutmeg - NO MORE or it will overpower the cinammon

Probably could use fresh yeast instead of the dried stuff with the advanced 'starting' if you wish and can be bothered.

Chuck all into a big bowl and mix up in the usual, messy way (I hold back some of the milk until the rest is hanging together). It does get rather sticky of course in the early stages.  Give it a good kneading for about 15 mins or until your arms drop off, when the dough should be elastic and smooth apart from the raisins, and your hands have become incredibly clean.  Cover the bowl with the pet tea towel and allow first prove in the usual way - if warm about an hour, aiming for the doubling in volume, longer if cool.

Knock back and knead again, form and drop into the loaf tin.   Slash the 'skin with a few diagonal cuts , cover and allow second proof - another hour or so.

warm the oven up to 200, 190 if fan.  Paint the whole top of the dough with a mix of beaten egg and milk then microwave the rest of the milk/egg mix for a baker's treat mini scrambled egg snack on a slice of toast while you bake the loaf for  the first 15 mins.  Rotate the loaf (to try and even out the colouring on the top) and bake for another 10 mins or until you get your preferred degree of browning.

When done, let cool in the tin for no more than 5 mins before turning out on a wire grid to cool fully.

Bon appetit.   Wonderful with homemade jam, especially still just slightly warm.

[JaK]

thank you very much hamstergbert, this recipe seems perfect.