Wanna See My Buns?

Hot Cross Buns
makes 24

The Shtuff
1 cup milk
2 tbsp yeast
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 eggs
5 cup flour
1 1/3 cup currants or raisins (I used currants)
1 egg white

In a small saucepan, heat the milk until warm, but not hot (110 degrees F if using a thermometer). Pour the warm milk in a bowl and sprinkle the yeast over. Mix to dissolve and let that sit for 5 minutes.

Stirring constantly (And I mean until your arm falls right off) add the sugar, salt, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and eggs. Gradually mix in the flour - the dough will be sticky and wet. Continue kneading the dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30-45 minutes

Knead agin until smooth and elastic about 3 minutes worth of kneading. Add your currants or raisins and knead until well mixed. Shape the dough into a ball, place in a buttered dish and cover with plastic wrap and let rise overnight in the fridge. All excess moisture will be absorbed in the morning.

Let dough sit at room temp for a half-hour. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Divide the dough into 24 pieces and shape each portion into a ball and place on a sheet, about 1/2 inch apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towl and let rise in a warm DRAFT-FREE place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

When buns have risen, take a knife and slash a cross shape on them. Brush them with the egg white and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 and bake for 15 minutes more (or until they are golden brown). Transfer to a wire rack and then apply . . .

The Glaze Boss - The Glaze



1 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped lemon zest
1/2 tsp lemon extract
1-2 tbsp milk

Whisk ingredients together and apply in a cross pattern on the buns. Serve warm!


Note - - you may not wish to start off baking yeast breads when your mom has just started a yeast free diet. Some people will then call you a big jerk and your mom will cry off in a corner somewhere muttering about how "it smells like heaven".

You are inconsiderate, aren't you?!?

Next round, try the raisins instead - fresh currants are too juicy!

3.5 out of 5