Guyanese Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

• 1 pound plain white flour
• 1 level teaspoon salt
• 1 ounce yeast
• 2 ounces sugar
• 6 ounces preserved fruit
• 2 ounces margarine
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 level teaspoon spices

Directions

1. Warm milk to room temperature.
2. Stir yeast and one ounce sugar in a bowl (except when using instant yeast).
3. Add warm milk and beaten egg.
4. Sift flour into a large bowl, add salt and spice and rub in margarine.
5. Mix flour into yeast.
6. Turn dough onto a clean floured surface and knead to a smooth pliable dough.
7. Let it sit for 1 hour or until double in size
8. When dough is risen, knock back dough, and sprinkle in the last ounce of sugar and the preserved fruit (fruit soak in wine or rum).
9. Adding sugar at this stage helps to give the baked bun a crispy texture.
10. Cut dough in 12 even sized pieces and roll into round balls.
11. Put onto a greased baking tray and prove a second time.
12. Make a cross by cutting the top of the balls with a knife or use piece of dough to make a cross.
13. Bake in a hot oven, 350°F to 400°F for  30 minutes.
14. After buns are done, brush tops with cold water glaze made with two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of water.