Chocolate Hot Cross Buns with Mixed Spice and Cardamom

Ingredients

• 2 x 8g sachets of yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (310ml) milk, warmed
• 1/4 cup (60g) caster sugar
• 4 cups (600g) plain flour
• 2 tbsp Mixed Spice
• 1 tbsp Cardamom Pods
• 1 tbsp Sea Salt
• 60g butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups (250g) dark or milk chocolate bits
• 2 x 60g eggs
• 1/3 cup (50g) self-raising flour
• 1/4 cup apricot jam, warmed for brushing

Method

1. 1. Whisk yeast, milk and caster sugar until the sugar dissolves. Set aside for 10 minutes. Sift plain flour, mixed spice, cardamom and salt into a large bowl. Use your fingertips to rub in butter.
2. 2. Stir in chocolate bits, eggs and yeast mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Put in large greased bowl. Cover and leave in a warm spot for 3/4 hour until they become smooth balls. Turn dough onto a floured surface, punch down, and cut dough into 20 pieces, knead each piece until smooth balls.
3. 3. Place balls into 30cm x 20cm greased tray. Set aside for 1/4 hour.
4. 4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200ºC, combine Self Raising flour with 1/2 cup water to make a smooth paste. Pour past into a zip lock bag, snip top and pipe crosses onto each bun.
5. 5. Bake buns for 20 minutes or until golden and the buns sound hollow when tapped.
6. 6. While buns are still hot brush the tops with apricot jam.
7. 7. Serve warm.