Hot Cross Buns

Happy Easter!!!! I'm not a big tradition kinda person and most of the time I don't really enjoy festivities unless it just means hanging out with your immediate family and loved one. I'm not one for big parties and big groups of strangers or semi-strangers. However, I am a big big big huge huge huge fan of traditional food for whatever occasion and festivities. *salivates* So I baked hot cross buns for Good Friday/Easter!

To be honest - I never heard of serving hot cross buns on Good Friday or Easter until a month ago. In fact, I have not had one either. And since I am learning how to bake bread, it's the perfect baked good for the Good Friday afternoon. Hot cross buns are laced with all spice, nutmeg, cinnamon and raisins. How can I resist sweet buns with raisins?

These buns are traditionally served on Good Friday, but I think these days, people serve it on Easter too. And since it is just me and one other boy, we have these buns over the entire holy weekend. The buns are also crossed on the tops which symbolically represents the Cross of Christ and the Crucifixion. You can make the cross, pipe the cross with flour paste and bake or you can make the cross, bake the buns and then pipe the paste while the buns are cooling.

Hot Cross Buns

(bakes 12 buns)

Buns:

- 3/4 cup milk

- 1 pack (1/4 oz) active dry yeast

- 1/2 teaspoon white granulated sugar

- 3 1/2 - 4 cups flour

- 1/4 cup light brown sugar

- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)

- 2 large eggs

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/4 teaspoon allspice

- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 3/4 cup raisins

Egg wash:

- 1 large egg

- 1 tablespoon milk

- Glaze:

- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

- 1 tablespoon milk

- 1 tablespoon flour

1. Heat the milk till 100 degrees F. Add the active dry yeast and white sugar, stir to dissolve the yeast and let it stand for 10 mins until foamy.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine 4 1/2 cups flour, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.

3. Add in the yeast mixture and mix well (it will resemble crumbs).

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time and beat well with each addition.

5. Add in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time and mix well after each tablespoon. Then, start kneading the dough on a lightly floured surface and add more flour to it if the dough is still sticky. Knead the dough for 5 mins.

6. Knead in the raisins and form the dough into a ball.

7. Grease a mixing bowl and place the dough in it, turning it to coat the sides.

8. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 1/2 hours until it doubles in size.

9. Punch the dough down and divide it into 12 balls. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.

10. For the egg wash, combine the egg and milk - then brush the tops of the dough with it.

11. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 hour until it doubles in size.

12. Brush the tops again with the egg wash. Then, with a greased knife, make a 'cross' on the tops.

13. Bake in the oven for 15 mins at 400 degrees F.

14. Glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, flour and milk and mix well. You may add a lil more flour to thicken the mixture. It should be thick enough to pipe.

15. Fill a pastry bag with the glaze, snip the ends off to make a tiny lil hole and pipe along the 'cross' on the buns when its cooling.

I would love to eat loads and loads of chocolate Easter eggs instead but I think these are a healthier choice, right?!?!