As the Easter holiday approaches, many people look forward to the tradition of baking and enjoying hot cross buns. These sweet, spiced buns are a symbol of the holiday, often adorned with a cross made of icing or pastry. The flavors of hot cross buns are complex and comforting, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger warming the soul. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, creating these delectable treats is a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
EASTER HOT CROSS BUNS
This is a traditional, slightly sweet, spiced treat eaten during Lent and on Good Friday. Serve at room temperature or warm.
Provided by Violet
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Rolls and Buns
Time 3h52m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Stir 1/4 cup milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar together in a small bowl; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Stir yeast mixture, 1/2 cup milk, softened butter, and eggs into flour mixture with a wooden spoon until well incorporated; stir in raisins and marmalade. Dough will be sticky.
- Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup flour onto work surface; turn dough onto surface and knead, incorporating additional flour as needed, until tacky but not sticking to fingers, about 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball.
- Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with a clean towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
- Deflate dough; divide into 16 equal pieces and form into round buns. Place buns 1 1/2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheets; cover with a light cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Whisk egg white and 1 tablespoon milk together in a small bowl. Use a sharp knife to score a deep cross on top of each bun; brush buns with egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove to cool completely on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.
- Place confectioners' sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons milk in a plastic sandwich bag; knead the bag until combined. Snip off one corner of the bag; pipe a cross into the scored lines on each bun.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 186.1 calories, Carbohydrate 33.4 g, Cholesterol 31.9 mg, Fat 4.1 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 4.5 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 186.2 mg, Sugar 12.1 g
BREAD MACHINE HOT CROSS BUNS FOR EASTER OR OSTARA
Hot Cross Buns began as a tribute to Eostre, the Saxon goddess of spring, from whose name, as you may guess, our word Easter was derived. Eostre's tribute day marked the return of the warm sun in spring and was celebrated on the day of the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The cross on the bun wasn't a reference to...
Provided by Sasha Kamen
Categories Sweet Breads
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. Use a bread machine that makes a 1-1/2 lb. loaf or larger. Follow instructions for placing all dough ingredients, except the last five, into the bread machine. Select the dough cycle and follow instructions for starting.
- 2. When dough cycle is finished, remove from machine and place on a lightly floured surface. Flatten slightly and sprinkle with apricots and raisins. Knead lightly to distribute fruit evenly.
- 3. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll between your hands to form 16 roughly equal sized balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm (80 F.) place until doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes.
- 4. Preheat oven to 350 F. Make a shallow cross on the top of each bun with a sharp knife. With a fork, mix egg and water well and brush lightly onto the rolls. Bake for 16-18 minutes until light golden brown. Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes.
- 5. In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar and enough milk for frosting consistency. Blend until smooth.
- 6. Place frosting in a small zip lock plastic bag. Cut a small section of one bottom corner of the bag and squeeze onto rolls to form a cross on each bun.
EASTER HOT CROSS BUNS
"We looked forward to eating Mom's hot cross buns on Easter morning for many years," recalls Barbara Jean Lull of Fullerton, California. This scaled-down version makes just six buns!
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 45m
Yield 6 buns.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. Stir in butter, egg, sugar and salt. Combine 3/4 cup flour, raisins, currants, cinnamon and allspice; add to the yeast mixture and mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; shape into six 2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross on top of each bun. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Beat egg yolk and water; brush over buns. Bake at 375° for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Combine icing ingredients; pipe over buns.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 215 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 78mg cholesterol, Sodium 142mg sodium, Carbohydrate 38g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein.
EASTER BUTTERMILK HOT CROSS BUNS
These are a family tradition for Easter brunch.
Provided by violet
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 2h20m
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Measure the water into a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Let stand about 5 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Stir in the buttermilk, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and margarine. Mix in 1 cup of flour until well blended, then stir in the raisins. Gradually mix in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff enough to take out of the bowl and knead on a floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat and cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 18 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover loosely with a towel and allow to rise again until your finger leaves an impression when you poke the dough gently, about 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Remove the towel from the buns. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Spoon the frosting into a small sandwich bag or pastry bag. Snip off the corner and squeeze out frosting to make a cross on top of the buns when cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 194.4 calories, Carbohydrate 32.8 g, Cholesterol 0.5 mg, Fat 5.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 241.8 mg, Sugar 13.6 g
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best results.
- Make sure the milk and butter are at room temperature before starting.
- Don't overmix the dough, as this can result in tough buns.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
- Bake the buns in a preheated oven for even cooking.
- Brush the buns with a glaze made of sugar and water while they are still warm to give them a shiny finish.
- Serve the buns warm or at room temperature, with your favorite toppings.
Conclusion:
With a little planning and effort, you can easily make delicious and festive hot cross buns at home. These buns are perfect for Easter brunch or as a special treat anytime of the year. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake up a batch of these classic treats.
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