Cinnamon and Raisin Buns

These buns are quite tasty. They’re great to have on their own or with a cuppa, on a cold day, snuggled up in a blankie, watching TV or reading!! Easy to visualize that right? Well, these buns are fairly easy to make too. The kneading part may seem intimidating but once you do that right, the rest will be a breeze. You can also put these in the lunchbox for school or the office.

Equipment

• Mixing bowl x 2
• Measuring jug
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Sharp knife
• Oven/ Baking tray
• Rolling pin
• Sieve

Instructions

1. Get your ingredients together. These include;4 cups plain flour
   1 tsp salt
   1 sachet instant yeast (7g)
   1/2 cup granulated sugar
   1/3 cup margarine, melted
   2 large eggs
   200 ml warm fresh milkFilling1/3 cup margarine, melted
   1 cup old fashioned brown sugar
   2 tbsp cinnamon
   1/2 cup raisinsGlace Icing1 cup icing sugar, sifted
   Warm water
2. Put flour, sugar, salt and yeast into the mixing bowl. Give a quick whisk until just combined. Make a well in the middle and add the margarine, eggs and milk. Gently mix until combined and a dough is formed.
3. Sprinkle some flour on your working area and knead the dough for 15 minutes or until it’s smooth and pliable. Lightly oil a mixing bowl and put your kneaded dough in there. Cover lightly with cling wrap.
4. Place the bowl in a warm area and allow the dough to rise until double in size (About 1 hr. It could take longer if the place is not as warm).
5. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling by simply combining all the ingredients together, save for the raisins. Set aside.
6. After the dough has doubled, dust some more flour on your working area. Roll out the dough into a rectangle that’s about 1 cm in thickness. Take the set aside filling and spread it evenly onto the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the raisins on top of the filling.
7. Begin rolling the dough over from the longest side (the length). You now should have an elongated Swiss Roll look-alike.
8. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into about 2 cm thick discs.
9. Grease your baking tin or oven tray. Line it with some baking paper. Place your discs (the cinnamon rolls) onto the prepared baking tin, about 1 cm apart.
10. Cover with a damp towel and place in a warm area again until they have doubled in size. (about 30 min). While they double in size, preheat oven to bake 180 degrees Celsius.
11. After they’ve doubled in size, bake in preheat oven for 15-20 min or until golden brown. While they’re baking, prepare the glace icing by simply put the icing sugar into a small bowl. Add water gradually until it’s a thick smooth paste that can easily coat the back of a spoon.
12. Drizzle the glace icing onto the cinnamon rolls as soon as they come out of the oven. Store in an air-tight container. Enjoy!