Jane Austen's Favorite Bath Buns Recipe (2024)

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Elaine Lemm

Jane Austen's Favorite Bath Buns Recipe (1)

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 12/28/22

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Jane Austen's Favorite Bath Buns Recipe (2)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Proving: 2 hrs 45 mins

Total: 3 hrs 25 mins

Servings: 12 servings

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Bath Buns are a lovely sweet enriched yeast dough bun synonymous with the city of Bath in south-west England. Bath is also the city of Jane Austen, the world-famous author.

Jane Austen was only too familiar with Bath Buns. She often found it necessary to sneak them surreptitiously into her room to augment the rather meager meals given by her well-meaning but rather stingy Aunt Leigh Perrot, according to the Jane Austen Society.

Here she addresses her sister, Cassandra

"Your going I consider as indispensably necessary, and I shall not like being left behind; there is no place here or hereabouts that I shall want to be staying at, and though, to be sure, the keep of two will be more than of one, I will endeavour to make the difference less by disordering my stomach with Bath buns; and as to the troyle of accommodating us, whether there are one or two, it is much the same:"
Jane Austen to Cassandra, 1801.

This modern recipeuses caraway seeds and crumbled sugar to create a lighter version of the famous bun. Serve them warm, split and spread with salty butter and you will understand just why Jane loved them so much.

Ingredients

  • 115 grams (about 4-ounces) unsalted butter

  • 450 grams (about 1 pound) all-purpose flour

  • 7 grams (about 1 1/2 teaspoons) instant yeast

  • 1 pinch salt

  • 4 tablespoons superfine sugar

  • 230 milliliters (about 1 cup) lukewarm milk

  • 2 large eggs, preferably free range

  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

For the Glaze:

  • 1 tablespoon milk

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

For the Topping:

  • 3 white sugar cubes, crushed

  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Steps to Make It

  1. In a large baking bowl, rub the butter into the flour. Once you have created a crumbly mixture, add the yeast on one side of the bowl, the salt and sugar on the opposite side (it is not good for the yeast to come into direct contact with the salt). Stir thoroughly.

  2. Add the milk to the lightly whisked eggs, andpour this into the bowl with the caraway seeds.

  3. Then, using either your hand or a wooden spoon, mix really well to create a sticky dough.

  4. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 6 to 8 minutes (you can do this part in a mixer with a dough hook if you have one).

  5. Put the dough to rise in alarge, covered bowl until doubled insize (about 2 hours).

  6. Once the dough has doubled, tip back onto the floured surface and flatten lightly into a round. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces, roll each into a ball and place onto a baking sheet covered with greaseproof paper or a nonstick mat.​

  7. Cover the tray with a damp tea towel and leave to rise again for 30 to 45 minutes.

  8. Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C / Gas 4.

  9. Generously brush the risen buns with the glaze, then bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on your oven). The buns should be golden brown plus light and hollow when tapped on the bottom.

  10. Remove from the oven and then place the buns onto a cooling rack. Paint on the milk and sugar coating while still warm and immediately sprinkle on the caraway seeds—you may want to gently press them into the glaze to prevent them from slipping off. Repeat with the sugar bits.

  11. These buns are lovely eaten warm, cut and spread with salty butter.

Our Best Brioche Bun Recipe

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
260Calories
10g Fat
37g Carbs
6g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories260
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g12%
Saturated Fat 5g27%
Cholesterol 53mg18%
Sodium 35mg2%
Total Carbohydrate 37g14%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 46mg4%
Iron 2mg12%
Potassium 104mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • buns
  • british
  • shower
  • bread

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Jane Austen's Favorite Bath Buns Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is a Sally Lunn bun the same as a bath bun? ›

So-called Bath Buns, on the other hand, are smaller and sweeter than Sally Lunn Buns, with a lump of sugar baked into the bottom, crushed sugar sprinkled over the top and, often, currants or raisins swirled throughout. Like many aspects of Bath's history, this bun, too, comes with a story.

What is the history of bath buns? ›

Bath Buns

William Oliver arrived in Bath in the eighteenth century, brought decorum to the city's medical profession and invented the now legendary Bath Buns. He prescribed his patients to drink up to 60 cups of thermal water per day, but to offset the taste, encouraged them to also eat the buns.

What does a Sally Lunn bun taste like? ›

Sally Lunn Buns, scented with just a hint of citrus, either lemon or orange, have a light, airy, and tender crumb with a thin and crisp golden brown crust. This recipe makes a delightful and delicious breakfast or tea bread, somewhat like brioche.

What does a bath bun look like? ›

The Bath bun is a sweet roll made from a milk-based yeast dough with crushed sugar sprinkled on top after baking. Variations in ingredients include enclosing a lump of sugar in the bun or adding candied fruit peel, currants, raisins or sultanas.

What is the difference between a Boston bun and a Sally Lunn? ›

A Boston bun, also known as a Sally Lunn, is a large spiced bun with a thick layer of coconut icing, prevalent in Australia and New Zealand. Traditionally the bun contains sieved mashed potato, and modern versions sometimes contain raisins or sultanas, the inclusion of which dates from the 1930s.

Why is it called a Sally Lunn? ›

The story goes that Solange Luyon, a Huguenot refugee and baker, settled in the town in 1680 and began selling her breads, which quickly brought her both fame and a new Anglicized name, Sally Lunn.

How do you eat bath buns? ›

The bun is generally eaten with a knife and fork but there are no fixed rules. Most guests enjoy their bun with a huge smile on their face.

Was Sally Lunn a real person? ›

There is little historical evidence for Sally Lunn as a person. The Gentleman's Magazine of 1798 uses Sally Lunn as an example during a discussion of foods named after people—"a certain sort of hot rolls, now, or not long ago, in vogue at Bath, were gratefully and emphatically styled 'Sally Lunns'".

What is the meaning of bath buns? ›

noun. : a round bun made of sweet yeast dough containing eggs, butter, and currants and usually decorated with sugar, nuts, or pieces of candied fruit.

How do you eat a Sally Lunn bun? ›

The bun is generally eaten with a knife and fork but there are no fixed rules. Most guests enjoy their bun with a huge smile on their face. If for any reason your bun does not make you break into uncontrollable smiling then do please speak to a member of our team.

What is a Tennessee bun? ›

Southern BBQ style rustic burger buns made with dough containing a dash of red malt. Each bun has an authentic wrinkled top which differentiates them from 'perfect' brioche style buns. The buns are topped with a mix of poppy and sesame seeds for extra bite and a nutty flavour.

What is a buttery bun called? ›

Brioche (/ˈbriːoʊʃ/, also UK: /ˈbriːɒʃ, briːˈɒʃ/, US: /briːˈoʊʃ, ˈbriːɔːʃ, briːˈɔːʃ/, French: [bʁijɔʃ]) is a bread of French origin whose high egg and butter content gives it a rich and tender crumb.

What is the lump of sugar in a bath bun? ›

Todays Bath Buns are no longer made with caraway seeds or comfits, nor are they decorated with them. They are now baked with a lump of sugar in them, and decorated with sugar nibs and currants. It now looks more like a brioche like the Saly Lunn, light instead of a more dense scone-like bake.

What is a clean girl bun? ›

Pull all of your hair securely back where you want it to sit after your part is in place. Brush your hair through from front to back to smooth out any gaps or bumps. Once you're satisfied with the look, secure it in the back with a hair tie. The ponytail should then be carefully twisted and wrapped into a bun.

What are Bath Buns made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 300ml whole milk.
  • 3 medium eggs.
  • 600g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting.
  • 120g unsalted butter, softened.
  • 80g golden caster sugar.
  • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast.
  • sunflower oil, for proving.
  • clotted cream and jam, to serve.

What type of bun is traditionally eaten at Easter? ›

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten over the Easter religious Christian holiday to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday on the cross.

How do you eat Sally Lunn bun? ›

The bun is generally eaten with a knife and fork but there are no fixed rules. Most guests enjoy their bun with a huge smile on their face. If for any reason your bun does not make you break into uncontrollable smiling then do please speak to a member of our team.

What is the history of the Sally Lunn bun? ›

A Sally Lunn is a large bun or teacake, a type of batter bread, made with a yeast dough including cream and eggs, similar to the sweet brioche breads of France. Sometimes served warm and sliced, with butter, it was first recorded in 1780 in the spa town of Bath in southwest England.

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