• Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside until needed.
• Line a large baking tray with baking paper and set aside until needed.
• Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and all of the milk into a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. After this time the mixture should have started to foam which is a sign the yeast is active.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, bread improver, mixed spice and cinnamon, egg, butter, raisins and currants, remaining sugar and activated yeast mixture. Use a butter knife to mix and combine the ingredients until a dough forms - don't worry, it will be sticky.
• Turn the dough onto a floured bench and knead for approximately 8 minutes or until the dough begins to feel elastic.
• Place the dough into the prepared oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and sit in a warm place for around an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
  
• Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces before rolling into balls.
  
• Place the dough balls into the prepared cake tin, cover with a tea towel and place the tin in a warm spot for another 30 minutes to allow the dough to again rise.
• While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
• In a small bowl, combine the extra plain flour and water until smooth and place into a piping bag.
• Once the buns have again risen, pipe crosses onto them before placing the tray into the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown and spring back when touched.
  
• To prepare your glaze, place the apricot jam and water into a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing to combine.
• Brush the glaze over the still hot Hot Cross Buns before carefully transferring the buns to a wire rack to cool.
  

Thermomix Instructions

• Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and all of the milk into your Thermomix bowl and cook for 2 minutes on 37 degrees, speed 1. Leave yeast mixture in bowl whilst you move onto the next steps.
• Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside until needed.
• Line a large baking tray with baking paper and also set aside until needed.
• Add the flour, bread improver, mixed spice, cinnamon, egg, butter and remaining sugar into the Thermomix bowl. Mix for 15 seconds on speed 7 or until all ingredients have combined.
• Add the raisins and currants to the bowl and combine for 3 minutes using the kneading function.
• Place the dough into the prepared oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and sit in a warm place for around an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces before rolling into balls.
• Place the dough balls into the prepared cake tin, cover with a tea towel and place the tin in a warm spot for another 30 minutes to allow the dough to again rise.
• While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
• In a small bowl, combine the extra plain flour and water until smooth and place into a piping bag.
• Once the buns have again risen, pipe crosses onto them before placing the tray into the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown and spring back when touched.
• To prepare your glaze, place the apricot jam and water into a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing to combine.
• Brush the glaze over the still hot Hot Cross Buns before carefully transferring the buns to a wire rack to cool.