Is there anything like the sinking feeling when you pull the curtains on a Sunday morning to see grey clouds and misty rain. Its 7am and the kids have been up since 6am. Much like two over excited Jack Russells, they need a good run around the playground, but you know the weather God’s have conspired against you. Well, rainy days are the perfect excuse for baking as a family. Fear not, this Jammy Bun recipe is a nice one, because there are a few different elements to it. I mention this as a positive, because it’s still incredibly easy, it just means there are plenty of jobs to keep little hands busy (dragging out the activity a bit). Let’s face it, if you’re going to the effort of making the mess, it needs to keep the kids entertained for at least a half hour.
These old school Jammy Buns are reminiscent of my childhood. I fondly remember my Mom cooking Jammy Buns in large batches and freezing them for our lunch boxes. Delicious served warm, they always go down well with a cup of tea or big glass of milk. Baking as a family is a great way to kill an hour on an otherwise miserable day. The kids will love cutting out the pastry shapes and licking the jam off the spoon! More importantly, at the end of it all, you will be rewarded for your efforts, with a warm, freshly baked treat.
Recipe
Ingredients
Pastry
85g butter
170g plain flour
A little water
Madeira mixture
170g sugar
170g butter
3 eggs
255g self-raising flour
Jam of your choice (I always use raspberry or strawberry)
Method
- For the pastry, place the flour in a bowl. Cube the chilled butter and mix together with the flour in a free-standing mixer until it resembles bread crumbs. Add in the water a little at a time until you form a stiff dough. Then place in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and then add gradually to the mixture. Next fold in the flour a little at a time.
- Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 0.5cm and cut out circles and fit the rounds into greased cupcake tins. Then using two teaspoons add a spoonful of jam to each pastry case. Finally divide the Madeira mixture between the twelve cases.
- Place in the oven at 180C for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. When cooked place on a wire rack to cool.
Looking for more great recipes to try out when baking as a family? These sugar cookies, are a less messy, edible alternative to play-doh!