There’s a lot to love about Christmas baking. The scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, the kick of rum or brandy, the silky indulgences of chocolate and cream in truffles and trifles. It’s fabulous, but, let’s face it, it’s pretty expensive too! Something cheap & cheerful, and preferably charming too, is very much in order.

With prices rising even as we queue at the till, the idea of some more budget-friendly baking has a great deal of appeal.

This is especially true when we’re baking with younger children, who probably don’t yet appreciate the allure of all that pricey spice. The answer is simple: bake bread! It’s as cheap as flour and water, and if you bake little rolls, they’ll be done in under 20 minutes in the oven.

Baking bread from scratch is always a rewarding experience, but turning ordinary dough into adorable hedgehog-shaped buns takes it to a whole new level of fun! This whimsical baking project is perfect for a cosy weekend activity, especially if you have little helpers in the kitchen.

The process begins with a simple yeast dough, kneaded until smooth and elastic. This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved – they’ll love the hands-on experience of kneading the dough! Once the dough has risen, the real creativity begins.

Shaping the dough into small oval buns is the first step in bringing our hedgehogs to life. For the hedgehogs’ prickly backs, snip the dough with scissors to create little spikes. This part is not only fun but also helps kids develop their fine motor skills.

The final touch is adding two tiny raisins or black peppercorns for the eyes, giving each hedgehog its own unique personality.

Serving these charming hedgehog buns is sure to bring smiles. They’re not just a treat to eat but also a wonderful way to spark creativity in the kitchen. So why not turn the school Christmas holidays – or Christmas morning?! – into a cosy adventure with these cute and tasty hedgehog bread buns? 🦔🍞🌟

Here’s our recipe for “Tiggywinkles” – aka Hedgehog Rolls.

Ingredients:

• 500g white bread flour
• 5g quick yeast (we use Doves Farm)
• 10g salt
• 325g warm water

Method:

• Weigh flour into a medium mixing bowl
• Add yeast and salt
• Add warm water
• Mix into a soft, warm dough with your / the children’s hands
• Knead until smooth and a bit stretchy
• Cover and leave to rise for 60 minutes
• Now take the dough out of the bowl and divide it into 12 pieces weighing 70g each.
• Shape into balls, then pull the snout outwards. Press a raisin in each side to make the eyes.
• Use scissors to snip prickles!
• Leave to puff up for about 20 minutes, then bake at 180C for 17 minutes, until golden.