Tea Cakes Recipe

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Photo of a hot cross buns recipe
Serves12
SkillEasy
Preparation Time30 mins
Cooking Time15 mins

Method

  1. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl then rub in the butter with your fingertips. Stir in the yeast, sugar, currants, mixed peel and spices.

  2. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in ¾ of the milk and mix together. Add more milk until you have a soft dough.

  3. Lightly dust a surface with flour and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl and cover with lightly greased cling film. Leave to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

  4. Knock back the dough by punching it. Then knead for 5 minutes before dividing into 12 tea cakes. Place on a greased baking sheet and cover once again with the greased cling film. Leave to rise again in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

  5. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6. Remove the cling film from the tea cakes and lightly brush them with milk. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden.

  6. Heat 3 tbsp sugar with 3 tbsp water in a pan until dissolved. Brush over the tea cakes and serve warm or cooled and toasted with butter.

Ingredients

  • 500g (1 lb 2oz) strong white bread flour, plus some for dusting
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 50g (2oz) unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 x 7g sachet fast action dried yeast
  • 40g (1½oz) caster sugar, plus 3 tbsp
  • 150g (5oz) currants
  • 75g (3oz) mixed peel
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 300ml (½pt) warm semi skimmed milk, plus 2 tbsp for brushing
Top Tip for making Tea Cakes

Make the dough and after kneading place in a greased bowl covered in cling film. Leave in the fridge to slowly rise over night