Crafts & activities

Bake some delicious Mistletoe and Murder Chelsea Buns

Bake a batch of delicious Chelsea Buns this festive season, a favourite of Hazel Wong, detective extraordinaire from the Murder Most Unladylike series.

Puffin team
A photo of the book Mistletoe and Murder next to some Chelsea buns on a pink background surrounded by Christmas decorations

You will need:

For the dough:

• 10g dried instant yeast

• 350g plain flour

• 50g caster sugar

• A pinch of salt

• 50g butter or margarine

• 1 egg

• 100ml lukewarm milk

• 50ml lukewarm water

For the buns:

• 50g butter

• 50g caster sugar

• 150g dried mixed fruit

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

• 2 tablespoons

How to make them:

1. Mix together the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Lightly rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Beat the egg and add to the dry ingredients with the milk while mixing. Add water as necessary to form a smooth dough.

3. Knead the dough well for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic (there are lots of easy tutorials online if you’re not sure how to do this.) Cover the bowl with greased plastic and leave it in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.

4. Knock down the dough and roll it out into a 30x25cm rectangle. Spread the butter onto the dough and sprinkle over the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried fruit.

5. Roll the dough up loosely like a swiss roll. Cut into 9 equal slices and arrange slices onto a greased 23cm square tin. Cover with greased aluminium foil and leave to rise for 30 minutes.

6. Preheat the oven to 190 °C / Gas 5.

7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until risen and golden.

8. Brush your delicious buns with syrup while still hot. When cool, take a bun break from your sleuthing activities and enjoy with a pot of tea.

Puffin Christmas gift guide

Find gift inspiration and ideas for children with our selection of festive books. Plus, we have a host of fun activities to get you in the Christmas spirit.

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