Traditional Cornish saffron buns made with a mix of wholemeal and plain flour. These lightly fruited yeast buns are easy to make, though you’ll need time to infuse the saffron and prove the dough. They’re particularly nice jazzed up with a few chocolate chips, but that’s entirely optional.
Cornish Saffron
Saffron with its bright yellow hues and subtle floral and bitter notes is a spice which seems singularly exotic. But it has long been associated with Cornwall. It’s said that the Cornish traded with the Phoenicians way back when, exchanging tin for saffron and it’s been used here ever since. This may or may not be true, but saffron was a highly popular ingredient in the Middle Ages and saffron crocuses were grown in Bude until the late 19th Century.
To me saffron is associated indelibly with saffron buns, a traditional Cornish bake and whenever the spice is mentioned, that’s what I think of. I grew up with them as a commonplace treat and every Cornish bakery worth its salt (or should I say saffron) will display a pile of tempting yellow buns. In true Cornish style, these are often eaten with clotted cream.
I don’t actually know how Cornish saffron buns are so yellow. Mine have a yellow hue, but never turn out to be particularly bright. I can only assume that commercial bakers use something in addition to saffron to get that colour.
Cornish Saffron Buns
Shockingly, I’d never baked saffron cake or buns until a few years ago. St Piran’s Day was fast approaching and I thought it was about time I got on with it. Once I made these Cornish saffron buns and realised how simple they are to make, I now bake them at last once a year.
The recipe originally came courtesy of the Cotehele miller, Sally Newton, whose flour I buy regularly. The wheat is grown locally and is stoneground at Cotehele Mill on the Cornish side of the River Tamar. True to form, I adapted the recipe. My saffron was not Cornish grown for starters and I used my own homemade candied peel. Wholemeal flour had to go into the mix for sure, but I used a higher proportion. Initially, I also substituted some of the dried fruit for chocolate. Well why not?
The buns are absolutely scrumptious. I find many of the ones you can buy are far too sweet. These are only lightly sweetened which makes them perfect for ladling on your favourite jam. I can highly recommend this hedgerow jelly which you can see in the photo below. Having said that, CT and I often enjoy them warm with a liberal helping of butter and no jam. Sometimes it’s jam and clotted cream.
The buns may not be super yellow, but when you bite into one, you know the saffron is there. It has a distinctive flavour which is hard to describe, but it’s integral to the taste of these Cornish saffron buns. In fact, chocolate and saffron seem to play off each other very well. At least in this instance. I don’t always include chocolate, but sometimes it’s just the thing.
Baking Cornish Saffron Buns
If you’re used to working with yeast, you’ll find these Cornish saffron buns are really quite simple to make. If you’re not, this recipe is a good one to start with. You need plenty of time as it’s best to infuse the saffron in milk for several hours prior to preparing the dough. But you only need to knead the dough once.
Once you have your golden milk, you’re ready to go. You need to rub some butter into the flour before you can then throw everything into the bowl and knead. I use a stand mixer these days, but I always used to knead by hand. The choice is yours.
As soon as the dough is nice and elastic, divide it into twelve and shape into balls. Place on a tray and leave to rise until doubled in size. The warmer it is the faster the buns will rise. I prefer a slow rise as it gives a better texture and flavour, so I don’t put them in a particularly warm place.
Once risen, just pop them in to a hot oven and bake for about twenty minutes. That’s it, job done.
What’s the Best Yeast to Use?
Fresh yeast or active dried yeast are by far and away the best yeasts to use. Instant yeast contains unspecified additives and I try to stay clear of it. The main reason for using instant yeast is that you don’t need to dissolve it in water first. But it’s actually a good idea to dissolve your yeast in water as this will tell you if it’s active or dead. If it doesn’t froth or show any other signs of life after fifteen minutes or thirty at most, it’s not going to get your dough to rise.
Personally, I like fresh yeast, but it’s not always that easy to get hold of. I buy mine from our local baker. But that’s not always convenient or even possible, so I have a tin of active dried yeast in the cupboard as a standby.
The general rule is that you need to use twice the measure of fresh yeast to dried yeast. So for this recipe, you can either use three teaspoons of dried yeast or 15g fresh yeast. A teaspoon of dried yeast weighs two and a half grams. So you need seven and a half grams of active dried yeast.
Other Cornish Recipes You Might Like
- Cornish sea salted caramel brownies
- Cornish splits – essential for a traditional Cornish cream tea
- Hevva cake – also known as heavy cake
- Squash chill chard feta pasties
- Vegan saffron buns
- Vegetarian lardy cakes
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you bake these Cornish saffron buns, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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Choclette x
Cornish Saffron Buns. PIN IT.
Cornish Saffron Buns – The Recipe
Cornish Saffron Buns
Ingredients
- 300 ml milk
- 1 tsp saffron strands
- 50 g light muscovado sugar
- 3 tsp active dried yeast or 15g fresh yeast
- 150 g unsalted butter
- 500 g flour (250g strong wholemeal and 250g strong white)
- 100 g dried fruit (I use a mix of homemade orange peel, currants, sultanas or raisins and sometimes cranberries)
- 40 g chocolate chips milk or dark (optional) if using reduce the dried fruit to 60g
Instructions
- Bring the milk to a near boil and stir in the saffron strands. Cover and leave in a warm place to infuse for a few hours. Overnight is ideal.300 ml milk, 1 tsp saffron strands
- When you’re ready to start making the buns, reheat the milk so that it’s tepid. Stir in the yeast and sugar and leave for ten to fifteen minutes to froth up.50 g light muscovado sugar, 3 tsp active dried yeast
- Meanwhile, rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.150 g unsalted butter, 500 g flour
- Stir in the yeasted milk.
- Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is nicely elastic. Add the dried fruit and knead it in.100 g dried fruit
- Divide into 12 equal pieces and shape into balls.
- Place in a 9″ (23 cm) sq silicone baking mould or greased tin. Cover with a plastic bag and leave to rise for one to three hours until doubled in size. I prefer a slow rise, so I don’t put them in a particularly warm place, but a warmer place would produce a much faster rise.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200℃ (400℉, Gas 6) for about 20 minutes, by which time the tops should be brown and the bottoms sound hollow when tapped.
- Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Saffron Bun Sharing
Bloggers Around the World is celebrating all things British this month, so although Cornwall would love to be its very own country, it does at the moment contribute its saffron buns to British cuisine. This is a monthly event from Chris of Cooking Around the World.
Not only did the flour come from Cotehele Mill, but the original recipe did too. I am thus submitting it to Shop Local with Elizabeth’s Kitchen.
Made from scratch as these are Cornish saffron buns are, I’m sending them off to Javelin Warrior’s Cookin w/Luv for his Made With Love Mondays.
Alison says
These look gorgeous.
Tina Anand says
I enjoy baking and your saffron buns look gloriously good. I will definitely making these one weekend, with your combo of dried fruits and chocolate chips.
Nayna Kanabar says
These look super delicious.
Nazima Pathan says
Love the colour and smell of saffron – made these buns a while back and your post reminds me how lovely they were!
Ananda Rajashekar says
love the sound of saffron in bun and forgot to mention before.. so happy to see you finally Choclette!
GG says
These look wonderful, a fabulous yellow and I bet they smell amazing. GG
Alecia says
I found some saffron at Costco before Christmas at a great price and purchased it – not knowing what I might use it for. This is a great recipe that I’m going to have to try!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Fab new blog look and love the buns. What a good combo.
Phil in the Kitchen says
I haven’t eaten a saffron bun for far too long. These look lovely and are making me nostalgic for happy times in Cornwall years ago. I haven’t been to Cotehele for far too long either. I remember it as a magical place. I’m liking the new blog look too, by the way.
Kath says
Ooh I love the new blog look and the picture of you too. x
Jane Sarchet says
Way to go girl! They look AWSOME! Chocolate in a saffron bun? Why not 😀
Janie x
PS LOVE the new look, very clean bright and user friendly xxx
Jacqueline Meldrum says
The blog is looking fab Choclette and so do those buns!
Janice Pattie says
I remember those Saffron buns so well from my summer job in St Ives in the late ’70s. Mind you I think sometimes the yellow was achieved with other means than saffron! Love the chocolate substituion and the wholemeal flour, so tasty. Super, fabulous blog make over too 🙂
The Caked Crusader says
I’ve read about these but never seen them – they look lovely!
Elizabeth says
I had no idea about the saffron/Cornwall connection. What a lovely sounding recipe though, thank you for linking up with #ShopLocal. Loving the new blog look too!
Dannii@hungryhealthyhappy.com says
These sounds perfect for Easter when my Dad comes to visit.
Karen S Booth says
LOVING your new look layout Choclette and also it’s nice to see you too! As for these buns, they looks amazing and I do love a saffron bun! Karen
London unattached lifestyle blog says
Those look so pretty! I’m really looking forward to coming to cornwall again
Sylvia F. says
Saffron buns? What a brilliant idea! Have to use my saffron finally 😉
Deena Kakaya says
Oh what a fabulous idea, I bet the saffron adds wonderful colour, aroma and essence. X
belleau kitchen says
absolutely stunning!… i’m planning to bake tomorrow and had something in mind but now i’m thinking about these, they really do appeal!
Emma Julia says
These sound delicious, and I have some saffron lurking in my cupboard, crying out to be used…
Javelin Warrior says
Saffron is one of the favorite spices and it’s just a versatile spice too – perfect for sweet and savory applications. I’ve never had it paired with chocolate before, but it just sounds so good… Love this combo, Choclette!
Heidi Roberts says
They look really nice – would be great with butter.
Chris says
The saffron buns look lovely. Your post reminds me of my visit to the Cotehele Mill some time ago. That was a good time. Thank you for joining Bloggers Around the World. Maybe another time we will have Cornwall as our theme. Maybe you could even guest-host it then.
Angie Schneider says
These saffron buns look so beautifully golden and soft!
Johanna GGG says
These look so beautifully golden – and I love your intro about cornwall and saffron – I wasn’t aware of the connection
manu says
Mhhh they look so yummy! My mouth is watering…