Hot Cross Buns Hot Cross Buns anyone! Try these Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe not only on Maundy Thursday during Lent but at any time of the year.
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally baked and eaten during Lent which is the period from Shrove Tuesday till Good Friday.
These are sweet leavened bread loaded with raisins, flavored with spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Each of these buns is also marked with a cross.
These Hot Cross buns are made with plain flour or all-purpose flour. The cross is traditionally made with short-crust pastry but this is gradually being replaced with sweet icing.
Table of Contents
- Why Hot Cross Buns at Easter?
- Hot Cross Buns Ingredients
- How to make these Easy Hot Cross Buns at Home
Why Hot Cross Buns at Easter?
There are numerous superstitions and tales surrounding these Hot Cross Buns. One of them says that the buns baked and served on Good Friday will not grow moldy till the next year.
If the Hot Cross Bun is hung in the kitchen, it is said to protect the home against kitchen fires and also ward off evil spirits. It is also said to yield perfectly baked bread throughout the year.
If taken on a sea voyage, the Hot Cross Bun is also said to protect sailors from a shipwreck or a storm. When you share this Bun it is believed to strengthen a friendship bond.
In the year 1592, Queen Elizabeth-I passed a decree that hot cross buns could be sold only on Good Friday, Christmas, and during burials. People then started baking their own bread secretly which was supposed to be illegal.
With much said, let’s bake our own Hot Cross Buns. I have been baking these buns every year but this Hot Cross Buns Easy Recipe never fails.
Hot Cross Buns Ingredients
- 3½ cups All-purpose flour
- 2 whole Eggs
- ½ cup Milk, lukewarm
- ¼ cup Sugar powdered
- 4 tbsp Butter
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg powder
- 1 tsp Spice powder (cloves, cinnamon, cardamom)
- 1 cup raisins, currants, peels, or any dry fruits.
- ½ tsp Vanilla essence
- ½ tsp Salt
For the Yeast Mixture
- 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 50 ml Water
For the Cross on the Hot Cross Bun
- 50 grams flour
- 1 tsp Sugar powdered
- Water as needed
How to make these Easy Hot Cross Buns at Home
Prep Time (including proofing): 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Bake Time: 15 Minutes
Yields: 12 Hot Cross Buns
- The first proof of the yeast. Into half a cup of warm water add 1 tsp sugar and 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast. Allow the yeast to rise for about 10 minutes depending on the temperature outside.
- Next, in a mixing bowl add the sifted plain flour, powdered sugar, spice powder, nutmeg powder, eggs, milk, and also some salt. Also, add the risen yeast and mix well with the back of a wooden spoon until it all comes together.
- Later pour the dough onto a flat floured surface, add butter and knead to form a smooth dough. Add more flour if you find the dough to be a little sticky.
- Next, put the dough back into the same mixing bowl. Cover the bowl and leave the dough to prove until it doubles in size. This should take you approximately one hour or so, depending on the weather.
- After the dough doubles in size, drop it onto a floured surface and then punch it down. Divide this dough into 12 equal parts.
- Fold each portion of the dough inwards and form it into a smooth ball. Place these balls on a greased baking tray and allow them to rise again until they double in size.
- For the cross, begin by combining flour, sugar, and water. Pour this paste into a piping bag or a Ziploc bag and then pipe a cross on each bun.
- Bake the buns in a pre-heated oven at 200 deg C for approximately 15 minutes or more depending on the temperature and settings of your oven.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Hot Cross Buns with honey, and maple syrup or simply cut them into two and slather it with butter. Enjoy it with your cup of tea or coffee.
Hope you will certainly try this Easy Recipe for Hot Cross Buns and share it with your family and friends. Enjoy these buns with your favourite cup of tea or coffee.
Also, let me have your comments and feedback if you have tried out this easy recipe of Hot Cross Buns.
Delicious Cakes for you to try:
Printable Recipe Card
Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Ingredients
- 3½ cups All purpose flour sifted
- 2 whole Eggs
- ½ cup Milk, luke warm
- ¼ cup Sugar powdered
- 4 tbsp Butter
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg powder
- 1 tsp Spice powder (cloves, cinnamom, cardamom)
- 1 cup Raisins, currants, peels or any dry fruits.
- ½ tsp Vanilla essence
- ½ tsp Salt
For the Yeast Mixture
- 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 50 ml Water
For the Cross
- 50 grams flour
- 1 tsp Sugar powdered
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm water and add sugar.
Recipe for Hot Cross Buns
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, salt, butter, spice powder, nutmeg powder, vanilla essence and eggs with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Transfer this dough on to a flat surface and knead it to make a soft dough. Add in the dried fruits and mix well.
- Oil the mixing bowl and place the dough in it and cover with a damp cloth. Leave it to prove till it doubles in volume.
- Now turn the dough on to a floured surface and punch it down. Divide this dough into 15 equal portions.
- Shape the rolls to form buns and place them on a greased baking tray. Leave it to prove once again.
- Now mix 50 grams of flour with water to form a smooth paste. Put this into a piping bag.
- Bake the buns in an oven at 200 deg C for 15 – 17 minutes. Butter the buns after you remove them from the oven.
- Let the buns cool on a wire rack and later wrap in a damp cloth to let the buns will retain its softness.
Notes
- This recipe will yield you 12 medium-sized buns.
- I baked 8 buns at a time and it took me exactly 15 minutes at 200 deg C.
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