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Belgian Bun Recipe

Since my eldest was able to talk he’s always had a favourite cake which we indulge in when in town at the bakers – a Belgium Bun or as he likes to call them Cherry on the Top Cakes (not to be confused with Cherry Bakewells which are also Cherry on the Top Cakes!). For months, I’ve searched the internet and my many recipes books (I may have mentioned my cookbook obsession before!) and I’ve found a couple of recipes but when we tried them they really didn’t have the same taste as the store brought Belgium Buns so I got creative in the kitchen and have come up with THE BEST Belgian Bun Recipe according to my family as they taste better than the bakers and the store so here goes.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Ingredients

I have included affiliate links to ingredients and products I recommend when making this recipe.

90ml of milk

1 teaspoon of Active Dry Yeast

Pinch of Sugar (if kneading by hand, leave out if using a bread maker)

225g Strong White Flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

25g unsalted butter

50g Caster Sugar

1 medium egg

2 tablespoons of Lemon Curd

2 LARGE handfuls of raisins

3 tablespoons of icing sugar

Water

1 Glace Cherry per bun

Hand Made Recipe

For a bread maker recipe see below

Warm the milk to hand hot in the microwave (it took around 20 seconds) add a pinch of sugar and the fast acting yeast (I know you shouldn’t have to but it’s getting near winter here in the UK and to ensure that the dough rises it needs the yeast to be warmed) – leave this for around 20 minutes you will see the yeast working.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

In a bowl mix the flour and salt. Cube up the butter and then rub in using your fingers to make a breadcrumb consistency.

Stir the sugar into the dry ingredients.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

In the centre of the bowl make a depression and add the egg and the yeast/milk mix

Gradually mix in the flour from around the edge to make a soft dough – if it’s too dry then add some more milk to the mix but make sure it is at least room temperature.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for around 5 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Put it in a clean bowl and cover with a dish towel for around 2 hours – make sure it’s in a warm location otherwise the dough will take much longer to double in size.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Once the dough has doubled in size knead again for approximately 2 minutes and then roll out.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Spread with the lemon curd and then sprinkle on the handfuls of raisins.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Roll up the dough to along the thick end similar to how you would roll a swiss roll and then cut into 9 or 12 small pieces.

Place on a greased baking tray and leave for the second rise for around 30 minutes again make sure it’s in a warm place.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Pre-heat the oven at 200C and bake the buns for 20 – 25 minutes until golden brown.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Make up a frosting with the icing sugar and water to a thick paste.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Remove the buns once cooked and place on a wire rack to cool down. Once they have cooled add the icing and place a cherry on the top.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

These are best eaten within 2 days as they will go stale if left – although we have no fear of them being left here as I am now no longer allowed to buy Belgium Buns instead I’ve got a weekly request to make these for the weekend.

Delicious homemade Belgium Buns better tasting than the bakers and easy to make

Delicious homemade Belgian Bun better tasting than the bakers and easy to make. Included are the recipes for making by hand and using the dough setting on your bread machine.

Belgian Buns Recipe

Cerys Parker
Delicious homemade Belgian Bun better tasting than the bakers and easy to make. Included are the recipes for making by hand and using the dough setting on your bread machine.
4.41 from 10 votes
Course Cake
Cuisine bread
Servings 8 Large Buns

Ingredients
  

  • 90 ml Whole Fat Milk
  • 1 teaspoon of Dry Active Years
  • leave Pinch of Sugar (if kneading by hand out if using a bread maker)
  • 225 g Strong White Flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 25 g unsalted butter
  • 50 g Caster Sugar
  • 1 medium egg

Filling

  • 2 tablespoons of Lemon Curd
  • 2 LARGE handfuls of raisins

Icing

  • 3 tablespoons of icing sugar
  • Water
  • 1 Glace Cherry per bun

Instructions
 

  • Warm the milk to hand hot in the microwave (it took around 20 seconds)
  • Add a pinch of sugar and the fast acting yeast
  • Leave this for around 20 minutes you will see the yeast working.
  • In a bowl mix the flour and salt.
  • Cube up the butter and then rub in using your fingers to make a breadcrumb consistency.
  • Stir the sugar into the dry ingredients.
  • In the centre of the bowl make a depression and add the egg and the yeast/milk mix
  • Gradually mix in the flour from around the edge to make a soft dough - if it's too dry then add some more milk to the mix but make sure it is at least room temperature.
  • Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface
  • Knead for around 5 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
  • Put it in a clean bowl and cover with a dish towel for around 2 hours - make sure it's in a warm location otherwise the dough will take much longer to double in size.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size knead again for approximately 2 minutes and then roll out.
  • Spread with the lemon curd and then sprinkle on the handfuls of raisins.
  • Roll up the dough to along the thick end similar to how you would roll a swiss roll
  • Cut into 9 or 12 small pieces.
  • Place on a greased baking tray and leave for the second rise for around 30 minutes again make sure it's in a warm place.
  • Pre-heat the oven at 200C and bake the buns for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown.
  • Make up a frosting with the icing sugar and water to a thick paste.
  • Remove the buns once cooked and place on a wire rack to cool down.
  • Once they have cooled add the icing and place a cherry on the top.

Notes

Add the ingredients to the bread maker in the order recommended in your instruction guide or as follows - Flour, salt, sugar, melted butter, egg, warmed milk and yeast.
Put the mix on the dough cycle and leave to work.
Once the dough cycle has finished turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes and then roll out the dough.
Continue with the above instructions from "Spread with the lemon....."
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Love Baking why not try these really easy slow cooker cinnamon buns perfect to make ahead for breakfast or a sweet treat throughout the day.

Bread Maker Version

Add the ingredients to the bread maker in the order recommended in your instruction guide or as follows – Flour, salt, sugar, melted butter, egg, warmed milk and yeast.

Put the mix on the dough cycle and leave to work.

Once the dough cycle has finished turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 2 minutes and then roll out the dough.

Continue with the above instructions from “Spread with the lemon…..”

If you have a bread machine why not make our Double Chocolate Chip Brioche Loaf in it – it’s delicious for breakfast.

More Bread Machine Recipes for those with a sweet tooth over on 3 Boys and a Dog.

Shop this Recipe

Did you see our mixing bowl at the top in the first picture. It’s from my grandmother from around the 1930/40’s and when she died I begged my mum for it because of the memories associated with it from baking with her growing up. It’s Mason Cash mixing bowl and because it’s made from earthenware it’s ideal for making everything in from pastry to belgian buns. You can buy Mason Cash Bowls on Amazon and they are beautiful.

I invested recently in some new baking sheets and trays as our set had become very rusty with long-term use. I went for a non-stick set of baking trays in the hope that they would be easier to clean. So far they have proved fantastic with the Belgian buns I’ve made since buying them.

This was on my Christmas List last year a flour shaker it means that when I’m doing the rolling out and need to add some more flour to the surface I can just grab this instead of getting my hands into the flour container.

I was asked recently what bread machine I have, we have a Breville Custom Loaf. I love it and it’s used weekly for things like our Burger Buns, Bread at the weekend, Pizza Dough and of course these buns when my eldest demands them.

Delicious homemade Belgian Bun better tasting than the bakers and easy to make. Included are the recipes for making by hand and using the dough setting on your bread machine.

Delicious homemade Belgian Bun better tasting than the bakers and easy to make. Included are the recipes for making by hand and using the dough setting on your bread machine.

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

13 Comments

  1. I’ve just made these and don’t know why but taste really greasy. Only put 25g butter in.

    1. Hi Karen, I’ve never had that problem there isn’t a lot of fat in them – the only thing I can thing of is with greasing the pan.

  2. Karon Killick says:

    Making ready for tonighs return of gbbo. Also a family favourite, so I’m very pleased to fling your recipe.

  3. I made these buns and they look and taste great – the best recipe ever!

  4. Big and round with a cherry on the top – what memories and my dad and I used to battle over the cherry bakewells when they were in the building. Will make an attempt at these I think with my chef son and here’s to us being less big and round these days

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