A delicious, sweet and spicy treat, which is usually relished on Good Friday, Hot Cross Buns are a total delight to savour! Although there are many tales about how these became a part of the fast observed on Good Friday, the specific reason is still unknown. However, most people enjoy these buns as fast food to limit their temptations and have only wheat and water. Some people say that the Queen of England decided to limit the availability of these delicious buns among people because these were sacred. But the people of England did not want to agree to this rule and they also did not want to disobey the queen. That is when they decided to start preparing them at home and because of the lack of proper equipment, it was a long and dreaded task, that is why they limited making these delicious buns only on special occasions like Good Friday, Christmas and Easter. However, nowadays you can also savour these delicious, hot buns any time and any where! All you need to do is just get your hands on some basic kitchen ingredients like yeast, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, all-purpose flour, etc and get going. So, what are you waiting for? Try this recipe given below!
Ingredients of Hot Cross Buns
- 1/4 cup mixed dry fruits
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast
- 400 gm all purpose flour
- nutmeg powder as required
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup mixed berries
Step 1 Soak the dried fruits and berries
In a small cup, add all your dried fruits and add 1 cup of boiling water to it and keep aside.
Step 2 Let the yeast ferment
Take another bowl and add about ¼ cup of milk along with 1 tsp sugar and 1 ½ tbsp of yeast. Mix this well and let it sit until the yeast rises or for 10 minutes.
Step 3 Mix the dry and wet ingredients
Now, take a large mixing bowl and add 1 cup of warm milk, 4-5 tbsp butter, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, beaten, the yeast mixture and 1 pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix all of these ingredients together until the sugar gets combined with the butter.
Step 4 Add the flour
It is important to add the dough in later. Add 350 gms of all-purpose flour and combine it with the mixture. If you are using an electric mixer, make sure your setting is at 2 and knead for 10 minutes. You will know that dough is ready when it starts to combine but is still a little sticking a bit with the mixer.
Step 5 Add in the soaked dried fruits
Before adding to the dough, pat dry the dried fruits with a paper towel or a cloth. Now add them and knead them into the dough too. Put this dough in a pre-buttered bowl and cover and let it rise for an hour.
Step 6 Make balls out of the dough
Once the dough rises, take it out on the surface and divide into 12 equal parts and make balls out of it. Take a greased pan and start putting the dough balls at a 2-inch distance from each other. Keep it aside.
Step 7 Preheat the oven and apply egg wash
While the dough balls rise, preheat your oven at 190 degrees. Apply some egg wash on the risen dough balls and let them bake for 15 minutes until golden brown on top.
Step 8 Make the crosses and serve
The last and most fun part about the recipe, while the buns cool down, take 5 tbsps of powdered sugar and 3 tbsps of milk. Mix it nicely until a thick glaze is formed. Now transfer to a piping bag, cut the top and start making crosses on warm buns. Your Hot Cross Buns are ready to be served.