Fun recipe for the half term holiday :)

It's half term for most next week and a great way to spend time together is with cooking and baking! It's so much fun for the kids, even if they don't do the preparation, the decorating is even more fun...granted my son just eats most of it before it even makes it to the cookie or cupcake but that's the fun part :) Rather than just a basic cookie or cupcake, why not try something a little different. A while ago we made some mini iced buns, the preparation is lengthy so better for older kids learning to cook but also a great starter to bread making, the kneading part is fun for all ages. The decorating is the best part so make sure you have lots of sprinkles and decorations to hand.

Mini Iced Buns

500g strong white bread flour
10g fast action yeast
50g caster sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
40g butter
140ml warmed milk
140ml tepid water (this can vary)

Icing sugar and water for icing
Hundreds and thousands, sprinkles

Add the flour, salt, sugar and yeast to a bowl (making sure not to put the salt and yeast together as the salt can kill the yeast)
Pour the milk into a pan and add the butter, heat gently until warmed through and butter has melted, it shouldn't be too hot (warm enough that you can put your fingers in comfortably...be very careful) if it is too hot, allow to cool.
Add the egg and the milk/butter mixture to the flour mixture and start to mix, incorporate the water until a dough forms (not too sticky) it may need more or less of the water.
Knead the dough on a floured work surface for 5-10 minutes. (This is great for kids, just push the dough away from you from the top and fold over, turn the dough round 45 degrees and repeat for the kneading duration)
Place in an oiled bowl and leave to rest in a warm place until doubled in size.
Turn out onto a flour worktop and knock back the dough by squashing with your hands. Divide into about 20 small balls or more depending on the size you want as they will get bigger and make them into a oval shape (of course you can leave them as balls if you prefer.
Place on a lined baking sheet, allowing some room next to each one. Cover with oiled cling film and allow to prove again (doubled in size) normally about 2 hours.
Pre heat oven to 200/180 degrees and place in the oven for about 8 minutes until golden in colour.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
Once cooled, make the icing by mixing icing sugar and water together, feel free to add food colouring to make them pretty and make sure you have plenty of sprinkles and decorations at the ready and now decorate to your hearts content :))

Of course if time is short then make these up without the kids and have them just decorate them...the best part :))

If you don't feel comfortable making the dough from scratch feel free to use a white bread mix from the supermarket and just add the sugar, 1 egg and 250-300ml of water and prove until doubled in size, divide the dough and prove again and bake...and decorate :))