Hot Cross Buns

Hello lovelies, I'm back again with another special family recipe. I love Easter because I get to each as much chocolate and marshmallow as I want and of course, the most important of all, celebrate Jesus. I am so grateful to be spending Easter with people I love, I wish you love and happiness wherever you are and I hope you are staying home and staying safe.

It’s so important to us that people around us understand Easter is about Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection through which he paid the penalty for sin so everyone who believes in Him has eternal life with Him. It’s a glorious thing and such good news! These hot cross buns help to share the story.

Let's all celebrate Easter with these delicious Hot Cross Buns. There are fresh, seasonal for tea time and desserts. I have a couple of Easter menu ideas to choose from including pork belly, chocolate mug cake, & beef sliders.

You should know this was my first time ever trying hot cross buns so everything may not seem perfect but trust me, they came out so well and they taste so delicious, let me know when you try out my recipe 😀

Scroll down for the ingredients & full recipe instructions :)

In a small bowl, mix the yeast and super with the milk. In a large bowl, add flour, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, spices, and salt, make a well in the bowl then add the butter and eggs, mix everything well.

Turn the dough to a floured surface, knead the dough, place it back in the large oiled bowl, let it sit under the sun/warm place for 45 min, turn the dough back to the surface, knead again, divide the dough into small buns, then place them in your oiled baking tray. Cover the buns with cling film, let them sit for another 30 minutes. Make the 'cross' paste, add to a piping bag then pipe a cross on the buns.

Bake the cross buns for 20 minutes then glaze them whilst hot with the icing sugar and water mixture.

Now, let's get to the recipe :)

Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes (leaving the dough to rise takes 1hr & 15 minutes in total)

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 14 medium buns

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm milk warmed

• 2 teaspoons dried yeast

• 4 tablespoons sugar

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon mixed spices

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger/nutmeg

• 1 cup raisins currants

• 6 tablespoons melted butter

• 2 large eggs

For the Cross & Glaze

• 1/3 cup flour

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon boiling water

Procedure:

1. Stir the yeast and sugar into the milk. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, it should bubble.

2. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and spices and currants. Make a well in the center, add the milk and yeast, butter, and beaten eggs. Use a spoon to bring the dough together, then use your hands to make the dough to a large ball. Warning, it will be very sticky.

3. Turn the dough out on to a floured surface and knead for 7 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for 45 minutes to rise.

4. Turn the dough onto a floured surface again and knead lightly for 2 minutes.

5. Divide the dough into 12 balls and shape each into a bun. Place together on an oiled baking sheet, and cover loosely with a towel.  Leave in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubled in size.

6. Preheat oven to 356°F /180°C.

7. Mix the 1/3 cup flour, sugar and 3-4 tablespoons cold water to form a paste

8. Add to a plastic bag, remove the air and seal. Cut a little off the corner off the bag and pipe a cross on top of each bun.

9. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown (time may depend on your oven).

For the glaze

1. Add the powdered sugar to a small bowl with 1 tablespoon boiling water and stir until all the sugar has melted.

2. Remove the buns from the oven and brush with the glaze while still warm. Cool on a wire rack.

3. To store the buns, keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes:

If you find the buns getting too firm, I like to microwave them for about 20 seconds, this will soften them up and also make them nice and warm.