ITALIAN BUN RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Combine cake mix, sour cream, eggs, and oil in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 3 minutes. Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over batter in the pan. Carefully pour the remainder of the batter over the cinnamon-sugar layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla together in a bowl. Poke holes in the hot cake with a fork and pour sugar mixture over the top of the cake. Let cake cool completely before serving, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Put the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and shortening and rub in until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in 4 tablespoons of cold water and mix to a soft dough. Cover with cling film and chill while you make the filling.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/ fan160°C/gas 4. Mix all the filling ingredients together in a large bowl, with enough milk to just moisten it.
• Dust a clean work surface with flour. Roll out three-quarters of the dough to a rectangle large enough to line the base and sides of a 900g loaf tin. Drape into the tin and press up against sides, smoothing out any creases. Tightly pack in the filling and press down well. Roll out the remaining pastry to a rectangle large enough to fit the top. Dampen the edge of the pastry in the tin with water, press the pastry lid on top to seal and trim off the edges. Bake for 2 hours. Allow to cool for 1 hour.
• Remove the black bun from the tin, then cut into slices to serve.