British Cream Buns Recipes

CREAM PUFF "CRACK BUNS" (CHOUX AU CRAQUELIN)

Steps:

• Mix butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt together in a large bowl using a spatula. Place dough between two sheets of waxed paper or inside a zip-top bag. Press or roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Trim off the edges slightly to get a rectangular shape, if desired. Freeze crust until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
• Combine water, butter, and salt in a saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add flour; stir with a wooden spoon until mixture comes together into a smooth dough and pulls away cleanly from the bottom of the pan. Transfer to a bowl and spread out with a whisk to speed up cooling. Cool until warm, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk eggs, one at a time, into the pastry, mixing well after each addition. Finish mixing with a spatula. Scoop pastry into a pastry bag and pipe into 6 to 8 buns on the baking sheet. Smooth out tops with a wet finger.
• Use a cookie cutter to cut crust into circles about the diameter of the buns. Lightly push crusts onto the buns, just enough to secure them.
• Place buns in the preheated oven. Immediately reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake until browned and fully puffed, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer buns onto a cooling rack and place rack back on the baking sheet. Place in the turned-off oven, leave door partially open, and let cool completely, at least 20 minutes.
• Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Spread a few teaspoons of melted chocolate onto the bottom of each bun. Gently press each chocolate base back on the baking sheet to spread it evenly. Let chocolate harden, about 1 hour.

CREAM BUNS

Steps:

• NOTE: 2 tsp of dry active yeast can be substituted for the compressed yeast. sift dry yeast with flour and sugar, rub in butter, add combined lukewarm milk and water, then proceed as for recipe).
• cream yeast with 1 tsp of the sugar, add lukewarm milk, let stand 10 to 15 minutes until frothy.
• sift flour and remainging sugar into bowl, rub in butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• make well in centre of dry ingredients, add yeast mixture and lukewarm water, mix to a soft dough.
• turn out on to floured surface.
• knead 5 minutes.
• put dough into lightly oiled bowl.
• cover, stand in warm place 1 hour or until dough has doubled in bulk.
• punch dough down in bowl.
• turn out on to floured surface: knead 5 minutes. divide into twelve even portions.
• knead each portion of dough into a round.
• put rounds on well greased oven tray, allowing room for spreading.
• set in warm place 10 minutes or until half doubled in size.
• brush with combined beaten egg yolk and extra water.
• bake in hot oven 10 minutes,reduce heat to moderate, bake further 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• put buns on wire rack.
• when cold, slit open, fill with raspberry jam and mock cream, dust each bun with a litle sifted icing sugar.
• Mock Cream:.
• combine water and sugar.sift over heat to dissolve sugar.bring to boil, remove from heat.
• when completely cold, beat butter and vanilla until white and fluffy, gradually pour in cold syrup, beating constantly.

ENGLISH BATTER BUNS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the shortening, sugar, salt, eggs and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Stir batter vigorously for 25 strokes (dough will be slightly sticky). Spoon into 12 greased muffin cups. Tap pans to settle the batter. Cover and let rise until batter reaches tops of cups, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°., Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with butter.

PAUL HOLLYWOOD'S ICED BUNS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 210°C/190°C fan/415°F/Gas 7. To make the dough, place all the dry ingredients into the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add the milk, beaten egg, softened butter and half of the water, then mix until the dough comes together. Slowly add the remaining water to form a sticky dough. Mix on high for 8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Using a dough scraper, place the dough in an oiled bowl and leave to prove for 45 minutes or until just doubled in size.
• Meanwhile make the jam. Put a small saucer in the freezer. Add chopped strawberries, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice to a pan and place over a medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes until the strawberries are soft and the juices run. Mash slightly. Bring to the boil and boil for 5-7 minutes. Spoon a thin layer of jam on to the cold saucer and push with your finger, if it wrinkles and does not flood the gap, it is ready. If not, put the pan back on the heat and boil for an additional 1-2 minutes and test again. Once ready, transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knock back. Knead for 2 minutes minutes until smooth. Divide the dough into 6 pieces, then roll into balls and shape into fingers about 12-13cm long. Place the dough fingers in a line on an oiled baking sheet, leaving space between so that they just touch each other when risen. Place the tray in a proving bag and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• For the icing, place the fondant icing sugar in a bowl and gradually whisk in a tablespoon of water at a time to create a thick paste, beating out any lumps. Add the yellow food colouring and whisk to create a uniform coloured icing.
• Once the dough fingers have proved, bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
• For the Chantilly, whisk the cream, icing sugar and vanilla together to soft peaks. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a medium star nozzle.
• Slice each finger horizontally creating an even top and bottom and spread a layer of jam on the bottom half of each bun. Pipe cream in rosettes on top. Dip the top of the fingers into the icing, holding it upside down to let any excess fall away.
• Smooth the icing over the bun with your finger, then top with sugar sprinkles. Leave to set for a few minutes on a wire rack, then gently place the top of each bun over the filling and serve.