Happy Good Friday! Make These Hot Cross Buns for Tonight's Dinner.

Happy Good Friday! 

I always looking for new and fun ways to celebrate this wonderful Easter week. With today being Good Friday I thought that these Hot Cross Buns would do the trick. 

Super Easy to make and incredibly delicious! 

Total Time

2h 35 mins, with rise time. 

Bake Time

20-25 mins

380 degrees F.

Serves

12

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
3 teaspoons Red Star quick rise yeast
3 tablespoons sugar
⅓ cup dried milk powder
1 large egg
2½ cups bread flour, divided (+ extra for dusting your work surface)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins

For The Cross:
¼ cup flour
6 teaspoons water

For The Glaze:
⅓ cup water
2 tablespoons sugar

or

For Cream Cheese Frosting

 1/2 c cream cheese 

2 Tsp butter

1 cup powder sugar

2-3 Tsp water or more. You want a thicker consistency, like frosting.

INSTRUCTIONS

 Grease a 13 x 10 baking tray with butter and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the warm water and yeast. Mix until dissolved. Add the sugar, dried milk and egg and whisk until combined.

Add 1½ cups of the flour and mix well with a wooden spoon until it looks more like a smooth batter. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes it should look bubbly but still very wet. Add the oil and salt and fold through.

Add the remaining cup of flour and mix into a ball. Transfer to a stand mixer with a dough hook and add the spices. If the dough is still a little wet, add another tablespoon or two of flour.

Mix the dough on low speed for 5 minutes. Add the raisins and mix for another 2 minutes.

Transfer the dough to your table and form the dough into a ball. Place the dough into a bowl which has been lightly greased with olive oil. Cover and let rest for about another 30 minutes.

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, and roll into small balls. An easy way to do this is to cup the dough under your palm and gently roll it in a circle while gently pressing down on it.

Place all 12 dough balls onto the prepared baking tray in a 4 x 3 formation.Cover with a clean towel and let rise for another hour or until they have started to come together on the tray.

While they are rising make the mixture for the cross. Mix the water and flour together to form a paste. Once the buns are ready for the oven, using a piping bag or zip lock back with the corner snipped of, squeeze the cross mixture across the buns in both directions to form the cross.

Preheat the oven to 380 degrees F.

Place in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes and golden brown.

Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a pot. Simmer until reduced to about three-four tablespoons of liquid still left.

Glaze the buns when they come out of the oven and let cool. Cover and seal if you're keeping them for the next day.

So, a bit time consuming but way worth it! I hope you enjoy these as much as we do. 

From our family to yours, God Bless and Happy Easter!