Hot Cross Buns Day

Good Friday has traditionally been Hot Cross Buns day at our place.  I would get the mixture made and leave it proving and go off to the community Cross Carrying around the streets, in commemoration of the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.   By the time I came back it would just need the last rising and it would be yummy hot cross buns for lunch.   These days I use the bread-maker to do the work for me, so am sharing both recipes.

Number 1 daughter made the buns the traditional way for her family this year, so I have pirated her photo, and this is the recipe for these delicious handmade buns:

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HOT CROSS BUNS 

3 ½ teaspns dried yeast

1 cup warm water​

1 tblspn sugar

¼ cup sugar​

50g butter​

1 teaspn salt

1 cup milk​

1 egg​          

3 ½ cups flour

1 teaspn cinnamon​

1 teaspn ground ginger​

⅔ cup currants

1 tblspn sugar​

1 tblspn water

Sprinkle yeast on to first measure of water, containing the first measure of sugar.  Mix 2nd measure of sugar with butter and salt in a bowl.  Heat the milk and pour over this.  Stir until dissolved.  Allow to cool until lukewarm, then mix the yeast mixture into it.  Lightly beat the egg and add to this, then sift in 2 cups flour.  Beat well.  Sift the remaining flour with the spices and add sufficient of this to form a soft dough.  Add the currants and beat thoroughly.  Cover and set in a warm place to rise until double in size.  Turn on to a lightly floured board and knead well. (or use kneading hook in Kenwood).  Divide into 24 pieces.  Roll each piece into a round and place in well buttered patty tins.

Cover and leave to rise until double in bulk.

Crosses:

½ cup flour​1 tblspn melted butter. ​5 tblspns water

Sift flour, stir in butter and add enough water to enable dough to be piped.  Using a fine nozzle, pipe crosses on each risen bun before placing in oven.

Bake at 220° for about 12 minutes.  Take from oven and brush the tops lightly with sugar and water (or milk) which have been mixed together.  Return to oven for about 1 minute to glaze.

Number 4 daughter has most conveniently blogged about making hot cross buns in the bread-maker, so rather than repeat the recipe, I suggest you pop over to her lovely blog and check it out there. She also designs stunning knitting patterns that you might want to admire and/or knit too!

Happy Easter everyone!