Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns ????????

Since CNY till now, i have no time to make any bread at home. After the last live show on NTV7 (Morning Tai Tai) , i am kind of relax a bit ^_^. Since Easter day is coming, even we are not celebrating this day, but is fun to make some related foods, like this Hot Cross Buns. When i was planning to make this, my daughter told me to make something like the hot cross buns that we bought at Mark & Spencer London during our last trip there. The buns we tried was chocolate buns with chocolate chips and has hint of cinnamon aroma. So i came out with my own version.

Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns ????????

For the bread

350g High protein flour or bread flour

40g caster sugar

20g cocoa powder (I use Valrhona cocoa powder)

1/2tsp fine salt

1/2tsp cinnamon powder, optional

1tsp instant yeast

240g fresh milk

25g unsalted butter, room temperature

50g chocolate chips (cold chocolate chips from fridge)

For the cross

40g cake flour

40g fresh milk

15g melted butter

Method

1. In a stand mixer, add in bread ingredients except butter, mix and knead till smooth.
2. Add in butter, knead till elastic and shining dough. Cover and set aside to proof till double in size.
3. Punch down the dough to expel air, fold in chocolate chips then equally divide into 9 portions, roll into round ball, rest for 15mins.
4. Roll and shape into round ball, place into the baking pan (9'x9'). Let is proof for another 30-45mins.
5. Mix the cross ingredients till smooth paste, fill in a piping bag, draw cross lines on top of the bread.
6. Bake at pre-heated oven at 170C for 20-25mins.

Recipe by Sonia a.k.a Nasi Lemak Lover