Flaouna-style hot cross buns

A flaouna-style hot cross bun for a Cypriot twist on our favourite Easter bake. Add halloumi cheese and a sprinkling of sesame seeds for a flavour sensation

  • Prep:15 mins
    Cook:30 mins
    plus 1 hr rising and 1 hr proving
  • Serves 8
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 488
  • fat 14g
  • saturates 6g
  • carbs 71g
  • sugars 19g
  • fibre 3g
  • protein 18g
  • salt 2.22g

Ingredients

  • 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • 50g golden caster sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 250g halloumi, chopped into chunks
  • 150g raisins
  • 2 tbsp chopped mint
  • 1 beaten egg
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 50g plain flour

Method

  1. Mix the bread flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, oil, 2 tsp sea salt and 350ml warm water in a bowl with a spoon first, and then with your hands. Add the halloumi, raisins and mint and continue to knead (or use a mixer fitted with a dough hook) for around 10 mins until it feels less sticky. Shape into a ball, return to the bowl and cover. Leave to rise for about 1 hr or until doubled in size (or leave in the fridge overnight).

  2. Knock the air out of the dough. On a floured surface, shape into eight buns. Put the buns on a baking tray lined with baking parchment (no more than 2cm apart) and prove somewhere warm for 1 hr or until well risen.

  3. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Brush the bun tops with egg. Sprinkle on the sesame seeds. Mix the plain flour with water to make a paste, transfer to a piping bag and pipe crosses on top. Bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and risen. Serve warm.

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