Finger Buns With Icing Food

ICED FINGER BUNS

Steps:

• Measure the flour, sugar, salt and yeast into the bowl of an electric stand mixer.
• Lightly mix the ingredients together using the dough hook.
• Slowly pour in the warm milk, and continue mixing until everything comes together into a rough dough.
• Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time. Once the butter has been fully incorporated into the dough, add the next tablespoon of butter.
• Once all of the butter has been added, continue kneading the dough on medium speed for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• The dough is ready when it is soft and smooth, and also slightly elastic in texture when you try to stretch it. If you poke the dough softly, it should bounce back right away.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl.
• Place the dough inside the bowl.
• Cover the dough with a clean tea towel, cling film, or a reusable bowl cover.
• Leave the dough somewhere warm for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size (see Kitchen Notes below).
• Once the dough has doubled in size, punch back the dough to release all of the air.
• Gently knead the dough a few times, and then knead in all of the raisins.
• Portion your dough into 16 equal pieces. If you have some kitchen scales, weigh the dough and then divide this number by 16. This will be the weight of each bun dough.
• Lightly grease two rectangular pans measuring 17 cm x 27 cm (7 inch x 11 inch) or similar.
• Gently knead each ball of dough, and then roll the dough into a small log which is a bit shorter than the short length of the pan you are using. So if your pan is 17 cm (7 inches), aim to make your buns about 13 cm (5 inches) long.
• Place 8 pieces of dough into each pan.
• Cover the pans with a clean tea towel, and place the pans somewhere warm for about 30 minutes, or until the buns have risen and puffed up slightly.
• Preheat the oven to 220°C (428°F) (without fan).
• Make the egg wash by lightly whisking together the egg and milk.
• Brush the buns with some egg wash.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the buns are lightly golden. Check the buns at about 10 minutes, and if they are browning too quickly, cover them with a loose sheet of foil for the rest of the baking time. The buns are cooked if an internal thermometer reads 85°C (185°F).
• Gently remove the buns (intact) to a wire rack, and leave them to cool completely.
• Whisk in just enough milk to the icing sugar (powdered sugar) until you have a thick but spreadable consistency.
• If you like, add some pink food colouring. Start by adding just a drop and keep adding more until you have the colour you want.
• Leave the buns on a wire rack, but place a sheet of baking paper under the wire rack for easy cleaning.
• Use a small palette knife to spread the icing all over the (unseparated) buns.
• Sprinkle generously with dessicated coconut.
• Leave the buns for about 20 minutes to set before serving.

FINGER BUNS (WITH ICING !)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F.
• Grease a small baking tray.
• In a large bowl add flour and salt, then sprinkle over the easy blend yeast.
• In a saucepan, heat butter, milk and sugar together until the butter has melted and the milk is just warm.
• Stir milk mixture into the flour and beat well until smooth.
• Knead onto a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes.
• Then place in an oiled bowl covered with oiled cling film and leave to prove for 1 hour or double in size.
• Turn out dough and divide into 12-14 pieces.
• Knead into long even finger shapes and leave to prove for 20 minutes in a warm place or until well risen and puffy.
• Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.
• Make up the thick icing and coat the tops of the fingers in pretty colours.
• ENJOY!

EASY ICED BUNS

Steps:

• Pulse together the bread mix and sugar in a food processor or table-top mixer. While the motor is running, add the egg and about 250-300ml lukewarm water, until a soft dough is formed. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5-10 mins. Leave in an oiled bowl, covered with oiled cling film, in a warm place until doubled in size - about 1 hr.
• Knock back dough by squashing with your fist, and divide into 20 even-sized pieces - keep covered with a clean tea towel so they don't dry out. Shape each into a sausage and place on an oiled baking tray. Cover with oiled cling film and rise until doubled in size again.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove film and cook buns on top shelf for 8-10 mins, until golden. Cool on a wire rack. To decorate, mix icing sugar with a little water until stiff but spreadable - add food colouring, if you like. Dip in the top of each bun and scatter with sprinkles.

ICED FINGER BUNS

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a pan until steaming. Add the butter and swirl until melted. Leave to cool slightly. Tip the flour and yeast into a bowl or stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, then add the caster sugar and ½ tsp salt.
• When the milk mix has cooled slightly (it should feel just warm), pour into the flour mix. If using a stand mixer, mix for 5-8 mins on a medium speed until springy. Or, knead in the bowl for about 10 mins - when the dough is pulled apart, it should be able to stretch without ripping.
• Put the dough in a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for 1½ hrs or until doubled in size. Or, transfer to the fridge to slowly rise for up to 24 hrs (this will improve the texture and flavour).
• If the dough is chilled, remove from the fridge 1 hr before shaping. Divide into 10 equal portions (weigh them out if you want to be accurate). To make finger buns, take a piece of dough and roll it into a rough finger shape, like a mini hot dog bun. Tuck the sides into the middle of the bun. Flip the bun over, and make sure the surface is nice and taut. Arrange on a lined baking tray, leaving space between each. Cover loosely and leave to rise for 30 mins-1 hr until doubled in size.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the buns with milk and bake for 25-30 mins until golden. Put on a wire rack and leave to cool.
• Mix the icing sugar with 2-3 tbsp water - it should be thick. Divide between bowls, depending on how many food colourings you're using (we used three). Dye each with a different colouring, adding a splash more water if needed.
• Whisk the cream and 1 tbsp icing sugar until just holding its shape. Don't overwhip, as it will thicken as you pipe (see tip below). Fit a piping bag with a star nozzle and fill with a third of the cream (see tip below).
• Split the finger buns down the middle lengthways. Spoon roughly 60g lemon curd or jam over the bottom half of each bun (or down the middle), alternating the flavours, then pipe over a swirl of cream. Continue until all the buns are filled, refilling the piping bag with cream as needed. Spoon some icing over each bun, matching the colours to the jam (we used yellow for the curd, pink for the raspberry jam and purple for the blackcurrant). Decorate with the glacé cherries, sprinkles and crystallised petals, if you like, then leave to set for about 20 mins before serving. Best eaten the day they're made, but will keep in the fridge for 24 hrs.