Hot-Cross Bun recipe by artisan baker Aiden Chapman
For Easter, baker Aidan Chapman of the Phoenix Bakery in Weymouth likes to do things properly and his annual two-week stint making 1000s of hot-cross buns is no exception. Here is his recipe for exceptional buns, perfect to make at home, that don't take too long to make.
Makes about 12 buns
Method
For the dough
In a large bowl, add all the ... Read more
I really like the contrast made between the jet black ciabatta burger buns topped with contrasting sesame seeds, and the deep yellow crispy-coated halloumi, topped with a spicy sauce - they are fun to make and are a tasty treat for a Halloween night.
The buns are soft and airy - softer still with the addition of the carbon powder - and sprinkled with sesame seeds for a little contrast and ... Read more
A dark rich fruit cake with a tang of sourdough that slices well, our Chestnut, Sourdough and Rum Christmas cake keeps for a few months perfectly if wrapped well and stored in a tin. The crème fraiche is boiled with the sugar and baked into the cake, so like butter it will add richness and keep perfectly well. The excellent Mulino Marino Organic Chestnut Flour adds a subtle earthy background to ... Read more
BakeryBits is known the world over for making it easy to buy and enjoy excellent and unusual stoneground flours, heritage grains, as well as the finest roller-milled flours used by the best artisan bakers. So, we thought that this year our mince pies should continue that celebration and combine stoneground flour – from one of our many great millers we stock, or out of your own Mockmill – with ... Read more
Welcome to the BakeryBits Christmas Gift Guide for 2025!
This year it's my turn to create the gift guide! I’ve gathered a selection of my favourite new finds, timeless essentials and handy accessories that no busy kitchen should be without. With larger gifts at the top then smaller stocking fillers to delight further down!
Over the past year, I’ve been bringing fresh, creative ... Read more
I’m always looking for ways to create Easter bakes that are big on flavour and a joy to eat but are a little healthier at the same time. Hot Cross Buns traditionally have added sugar but as dried fruit are intensely sweet, so you don’t need any extra. The dates in particular give a warm rich sugar hit. I’ve lived in various African countries and finding butter was often an issue. ... Read more
This soup pairs perfectly with our Pumpkin Bread recipe or works well as a stand alone for whatever bread you have to hand to mop up the last remnants from the bowl after eating.
I like to experiment with different types of pumpkins as they give different results. Some of my favourites are Crown Prince, Turban, Butternut and the Hubbards, both Golden and Blue.
These all have different taste ... Read more
Sweetheart Sandwiches – Jam-Filled Biscuits
I’ve always wondered just how easy it is to make this well-loved biscuit at home and I’m here to tell you, it’s very easy. When they’re homemade they taste even more special (although that comes as no surprise).
These Sweetheart Sandwiches are made from a crisp, buttery biscuit base, similar to shortbread, sandwiched ... Read more
Purple Heart Sourdough Discard Crackers
These crackers started life as a “use up the discard” bake… and very quickly became something I needed to have a stock of, for those cheese and cracker moments when you don’t fancy cooking.
Made with blue masa flour, they end up with a beautiful natural purple hue and a subtle corn flavour that sits somewhere between a tortilla ... Read more
Big Puffy Yorkshire Puddings
Crisp Edges, Chewy Centres, Pure Joy.
I’ve taken a classic recipe and given it the BakeryBits treatment using golden rapeseed oil, beautiful French T65 flour and baked in a USA Pan tin so they rise like a sourdough starter on its best behaviour.
Crisp edges, satisfyingly chewy centres they’re everything you want from a Yorkshire, just… ... Read more
