Tea Bun Recipes

THE BEST NEWFOUNDLAND RAISIN TEA BUNS

Steps:

• I start these in my food processor because it is so fast but they can be made just as easily in a large bowl by cutting the butter in with a pastry blender or just rubbing it into the dry ingredients using your hands like Nan did.
• In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Cut in the butter until mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Transfer to a large bowl and toss in the raisins.
• Make a well in the center of the dry mix.
• Mix together the lemon juice, vanilla and milk.Pour into the well and mix only enough to form a dough ball.
• Roll to 1 inch thickness and cut out buns with biscuit cutter and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Baking time will vary depending on the size of your biscuit cutter. This recipe makes 16 tea buns.

TRADITIONAL NEWFOUNDLAND RAISIN TEA BUNS

Steps:

• Method: Mix all dry ingredients into a bowl, then add pieces of cold butter and mix well together. Mix egg and milk together in another bowl and add to mixture working it in with a spoon then your hand until almost into a ball. Add raisins if you are making the raisin buns if not don't add. Continue on forming into a ball then put out onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. After pinch off small pieces of dough and form a ball, then place on the parchment paper and make all balls the same size. If you like to roll them out follow this method, cover with a sprinkle of flour and roll into 1/4 inch thick pastry. With a 2 inch cookie cutter, cut out 24 buns, place on a greased cookie pan or square pan, place in a 350º oven for 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Don't over bake tea buns because they will be dry. Once baking is complete, remove from oven put on a serving plate eat hot or cold with butter and homemade jam.

TEACAKES

Steps:

• Warm the milk with the butter in a pan until the butter has melted, then add 100ml water to cool the mixture to room temp. Tip the flour, yeast, sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, making sure the yeast is on the other side of the bowl to the salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk and butter in, mixing until it forms big flakes, then bring together with your hands. Tip on a surface and knead until smooth (about 5 mins). Put the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, so about 1-1 ½ hours.
• Line a tray with baking paper. Tip the mixed dried fruits into the dough and knead them in, trying to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. Cut your dough into 6 even-sized balls, take each ball and, using the cup of your hand, and pressing down a little with your palm, roll the ball in a circular motion on the surface to create tension across the top of the bun and a neat round shape. Place onto a tray about 5cm away from each other and press down with your palm to flatten the dough down a little, creating the teacake shape. Cover loosely with an oiled sheet of cling film, for a further 45 mins, or until they have doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Brush the top of each bun liberally with the egg wash, then bake for 20 mins on the top shelf of the oven, until the buns are golden and well risen. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then slice in half, toast and slather with butter if you like.

TEA BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut shortening in until mixture has a fine crumb texture. Stir in milk with a fork to make a soft dough. Knead 8 to 10 times, and then roll out to a thickness of at least 1/2 inch. Cut into rounds with a cookie or biscuit cutter. Place on cookie sheet, and allow to rest for a few minutes.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

NANNY'S NEWFOUNDLAND TEA BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Whisk flour and baking powder together in a bowl; stir in raisins. Whisk milk and eggs together in a bowl.
• Beat butter, sugar, and salt together in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat egg mixture into butter mixture; stir in flour mixture until dough is just mixed.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll out about 1-inch thick. Cut dough with a biscuit cutter or juice glass; place biscuits onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

TEA BUNS

Steps:

• Stir together dry ingredients.
• Cut in butter or margarine until well-blended and no longer lumpy.
• Add raisins.
• Add milk.
• Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll with a rolling pin until 1-1/2 inches thick.
• Place on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 for 13-15 minutes.

GOLDEN TEA BUNS (SALLY LUNN BUNNS)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat the cream with the butter over low heat until the butter is melted. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and let it cool to lukewarm.
• Stir in the yeast, sugar, and salt and let the mixture stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
• Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and add the flour, about 1 cup at a time, beating after each addition until the batter is smooth.
• Let the batter rise, covered with a kitchen towel, in a warm place for 3 hours, or until it is double in bulk.
• Beat the batter well to deflate it and divide it among 24 buttered or paper-lined 1/2-cup muffin tins, filling each tin about halfway.
• With buttered fingers smooth the tops. Let the buns rise, covered with a kitchen towel, in a warm place for 1 hour, or until they are double in bulk.
• Bake the buns in the middle of a preheated 375°F oven for 12-17 minutes, or until tester comes out clean and the buns are golden. Serve warm.