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Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups bread flour

• Pinch of each: ground cloves, mace, nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)

• 4 tbsp. butter

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 oz. fresh yeast

• 1 cup warmed milk

• I medium egg

Method

Preheat oven to 400F. Put the flour and spices and caraway seeds, if desired, into a large bowl. Rub in the butter and stir in the sugar. Mix the yeast into a smooth cream with a little of the warmed milk. Add the yeast mixture, the egg and enough of the remaining milk to make a soft, elastic dough. Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 1/2 hours until it has doubled in size. Knock down. Shape into 6 large flat buns, put on to a floured baking tray and leave to rise again for 20 minutes. Cook for approximately 25 minutes until pale golden. Transfer to a cooling rack and serve cold, sliced and buttered.

Notes

• These rich, spiced buns are traditionally served at breakfast time.