Scottish Coffee Buns Food

SCOTTISH BLACK BUN

Steps:

• Pastry: Grease an 8-inch loaf tin. Rub the fats into the flour and salt and then mix in enough cold water to make stiff dough Roll out the pastry and cut into five pieces, using the bottom, top and four sides of the tin as a rough guide. Press the bottom and four side pieces into the tin, pressing the overlaps to seal the pastry shell.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Filling: Mix the raisins, currants, almonds, peel and sugar together.
• Sift in the flour, all the spices and baking powder and bind them together using the brandy and almost all the egg and add enough milk to moisten.
• Pack the filling into the lined tin and add the pastry lid, pinching the edges and using milk or egg to seal really well.
• Lightly prick the surface with a fork and make four holes to the bottom of the tin with a skewer.
• Depress the center slightly (it will rise as it cooks).
• Brush the top with milk or the rest of the egg to create a glaze.
• Bake 2½ to 3 hours.
• Test with a skewer which should come out clean; if not, continue cooking. An uncooked cake sizzles if you listen closely! Cool in the tin and then turn onto a wire rack.
• Cool thoroughly before storing until Hogmanay.

SCOTTISH RASPBERRY BUNS

Steps:

• Set oven to 425°F or Mark 7.
• Grease and flour baking sheets.
• Sift the flour into a bowl and rub in the margarine.
• Add the sugar and the beaten egg with enough milk to make a fairly stiff consistency.
• Divide the mixture into about walnut-size balls and place on baking sheet, allowing space for them to spread slightly during cooking.
• Make a small hole in the centre of each bal1 and spoon in a little raspberry jam.
• Pinch the edges together again.
• Dust lightly with caster sugar.
• Bake for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 350°F or Mark 4 and bake for a further 5 minutes.
• The buns should be light golden in colour.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

SCOTTISH BAPS - SOFT MORNING BREAD ROLLS

Steps:

• Rub the butter into the flour and make a well in the centre.
• Cream the yeast with the sugar, then add the liquid and salt, and pour into the well. Mix to a slack dough, adding extra warm liquid if required.
• Allow to rise until the dough has doubled in bulk, for about an hour or two according to temperature.
• Knead, and divide in eight even pieces. Knead each into a ball about the size of a fist, and flatten with the hand. Then lightly roll to a round with a rolling-pin.
• Place the ball doughs on a well-floured baking tray/s, lightly pressing your thumb in to the middle of the baps. Brush with milk and sprinkle flour all over the top of the baps. Prove for 15 to 20 minutes until well risen.
• Bake in the oven at 200°C (400°F) mark 6 for 10 minutes, or until firm and lightly golden brown, but still soft - tap them underneath and they should sound hollow when they are cooked. . Cool on a wire rack. Dust with more flour.
• These freeze very well - serve them with assorted fillings for sandwiches or just split whilst warm and spread with butter.
• US conversions: 1 lb flour = 4 cups. 2 ozs butter = 1/2 stick butter.