Iced Currants Buns | Lumino City

          We recently got the new AppleTV and it's pretty slick! There aren't a ton of games for it yet in the app store, but I found a beautiful puzzle game by State of Play Games in London called "Lumino City" (Dec. 2014) which is actually a sequel to the app game "Lume". The music by Ed GAPS is calming (listening to it right now) and the graphics are rich and interesting – because all of the backgrounds and objects were made by hand in miniature and then photographed in real time! It's very impressive with that in mind and, whereas the game felt like it ended a little abruptly, I really enjoyed relaxing and progressing through the story in the handcrafted world.

          From a fiction food standpoint I was impressed by several of the details scattered throughout the world such as recipes for lemon marmalade, lemon sauce – the city is run off of lemon energy ;) – and a mysterious bun recipe found in The Handy Manual that the main character carries around (there are also burgers with lots of salt, fish and chips, lemon jam, and licorice tea). Whenever you come up to a puzzle, you're supposed to consult the handbook to find the answer. At one point you meet a baker in Lumino City and he asks for your help organizing his buns (though they look like cupcakes). To solve his dilemma you turn to a page titled "Buns, Buns, Buns" for the answer.

"The baker makes the most superb cakes and I urge everyone to go and try them when they can. The location of his bakery, carved into a cliff a hundred feet into the sky, is not exactly ideal so he doesn't get the passing trade he so well deserves." 

– Pg. 31, "Buns, Buns, Buns," The Handy Manual, "Lumino City"

          After you help the baker he gives you one of his tasty buns as a reward. You then plop into your satchel and can see the little icon for it that shows it's got white frosting and a cherry on top. Looking back to bun puzzle solution in The Handy Manuel you realize that the Handyman, your grandpa, recorded a recipe for that bun! As you help the other Lumino Citizens nearby you find someone to give the iced bun to and then you proceed along your way in story.

"What is that recipe? The baker was kind enough to share these secrets with me. Delicious with a cup of tea."

– Pg. 31, "Buns, Buns, Buns," The Handy Manual, "Lumino City"

          I came up with the recipe below by converting and approximating the measurements given in the game (plus adding pinch of salt!) and by expanding upon the original directions. Because the puzzle solution shows cupcake looking treats, I decided to make my buns in a cupcake tin, but feel free to simply bake them on baking tray. I also changed the baking temperature and time because 450ºF for 20 mins was just a little too much! The recipe makes for about 16-18 tasty little treats.

Lumino City Baker's Buns

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Ingredients:
1 Cup Milk
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) Butter
1 Tbsp. Active Dry Yeast
3/4 Cup Sugar
3 1/2 Cup Flour
Pinch of Salt
2 Eggs, room temperature
1 Cup Dried Currants (raisins or sultanas would be okay, but currants are smaller)
Icing
2 Cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
4 Tbsp Hot Water
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
Maraschino Cherries with stems, patted dry
Fresh Lemon Zest (optional)

Directions:
1. In a small pot over medium low heat warm the milk & 6 Tbsp. of the butter (cubed). Once the butter melts remove the pot from the heat.
2. In a bowl whisk together the yeast & 1/4 cup of the sugar. Pour the warm milk/butter over it, stir gently, & then let it sit for at least 10 minutes to foam up a bit.
3. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour & salt & make a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture & then crack in the 2 eggs. Use the dough hook & mix on low speed until all of the flour is incorporated (use a spatula to get it around from the sides) & a sticky dough is formed. Place a large sheet of plastic wrap over top & let the dough rise for at least 1 1/2 hrs.
4. Flour a large flat work surface & scoop the dough out & onto it. Knead the dough for several minutes, just until no longer sticky, & then roll it out to a 12" x 16" rectangle.
5. Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp. of butter & brush it onto the dough, all around, up to the edges. Evenly sprinkle on the remaining sugar & the cup of currants & then roll the dough into a tight log starting at one of the 16" sides. Brush on a little hot water to close the seam & then roll the log so the seam is underneath.
6. Spray a cupcake/muffin tin with non-stick spray. Cut the rolled up dough log into ~ 1" wide sections & place the sections in the cupcake pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for about 30 minutes.
7. Heat your oven to 400ºF. Slide the tray in & bake for about 15 minutes or until the bun tops are golden brown. Remove & transfer the buns to a cooling rack.
8. In a medium bowl stir together the powdered sugar, hot water, & lemon juice until a smooth thick icing is formed. Dip & roll the top of each bun in the icing, adding a cherry to the top of each one after the bun is dipped, & then set the buns on a serving tray or back onto the rack (set the rack over a tray to catch any excess icing drips). If you'd like, after you dip & cherry each bun, sprinkle on a little fresh lemon zest. Excellent served with tea, just like The Handyman says!