Hot Cross Buns linkHot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One ha’ penny, two ha’ penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
Give them to your sons
One ha’ penny,
Two ha’ penny,
Hot Cross Buns!

Do you remember that popular nursery rhyme growing up? Originating in the Nineteenth-century versions of it were shouted in the streets in the week leading up to Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. Yes, Hot Cross Buns are not unique to Bermuda! They’re a tradition for Easter in many countries all over the world. However, nowhere else will you find a codfish cake sandwiched inside a warm Hot Cross Bun than in Bermuda on Good Friday!

Ingredients
31/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk, scalded
1 pkg. yeast, softened in 1/4 cup warm milk
1 egg
1 tsp. McCormick Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. McCormick Ground Allspice
3/4 cup raisins

Preparation
Pour scalded milk into a bowl. Add sugar, salt and melted butter. Cool to luke warm; stir in softened yeast and the well-beaten egg.
In a large bowl sift flour, cinnamon, and allspice. Add raisins and liquid. Mix well and then cover and let dough mixture rise in a warm place until double in bulk. Punch down and knead on a floured surface for a short time. Shape into small buns. Place buns on a well-greased baking pan and allow to rise again. Brush tops of buns with slightly beaten egg white. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.

TO ADD THE CROSS
For the cross topping, mix the plain flour to a smooth paste with 2 tablespoons of cold water.
When the buns have risen, remove the polythene bag and the greaseproof paper. Spoon the flour mixture into a piping bag and pipe a cross on each bun.

OR PIPE ON AN ICING CROSS
Mix 1 egg white with enough powdered sugar for icing to be very thick. Splash in milk as needed for consistency.
Add icing to a small Ziploc bag and snip the corner. When buns have completely cooled, with a sharp knife cut a cross into top of bun and pipe over with icing sugar.

GLAZE (optional)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp water
In saucepan, stir sugar with water over medium heat until dissolved; brush over buns. Let cool in pan.

Yield: 18 buns

 

Easy Hot Cross Buns

Use one package of Robin Hood Bread & Roll Mix as directed for rolls except in step two add:
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. ground allspice
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1-2 cups raisins

Yield: 36 rolls

Please follow and like us: