According to English folklore there are many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns. My favorite superstition is accompanied by the rhyme…
“Half for you and half for me,
Between us two shall goodwill be”
Apparently, if you share a hot cross bun while saying the above words it is meant to ensure friendship throughout the coming year.
This is my first attempt at making “Hot Cross Buns” so here’s to sharing them with all my blogging buddies… HaPpY eAsTeR!
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday served either hot or toasted. Some believe the cross symbolizes The Crucifixion while others maintain the buns pre-date Christianity. The cross in Saxon times was in honour of the goddess Eostre and symbolized the four quarters of the moon.
Ingredients
For the buns
2 oz caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
5fl oz hand-hot water
1 level tablespoon dried yeast
1lb plain flour
1 level teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon mixed spiced
5 oz mixed fruit
1 1/2 – 2fl oz warmed milk
1 egg beaten
2 oz melted butter
For the glaze
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of water
A greased baking sheet
Directions
Stir the teaspoon of caster sugar into the hand-hot water.
Sprinkle in the dried yeast and leave until a good frothy head forms.
Meanwhile, sift the flour, salt and mixed spice into a mixing bowl and add the 2oz sugar, dried fruit. Once the yeast mixture is ready, make a well in the centre of the dried ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture. Add the 1 1/2 flu oz warm milk, beaten egg and melted butter. Do not have the milk too hot! Mix to a dough using a wooden spoon. Add a drop more milk if needed. (suing the wooden spoon stops your hands becoming all sticky)
Transfer dough onto a clean surface and knead until feels smooth and elastic. (about 6 mins) Put the dough back into a bowl and cover with a lightly oiled plastic bag and leave in a warm place to rise. Takes about 1 hour (should double to orginal size)
Turn out and knead again back to original size. Divide mixture into 12 rounds and place on a greased baking tray. Allow plenty of room between each one for expansion.
*Make a deep cross on each bun with a knife. Leave them to rise once more covering with the oiled plastic for about 25minutes. Preheat oven to 425F Bake the buns for about 15 mins. (ALthough the recipe states 425F I found the buns were cooking to quickly so I reduced the temp to 380F)
For the glaze
While they are cooking melt sugar and water over a gentle heat and brush the buns with glaze as soon as they come out of the oven.
*Cross Alternatively, you can make a pastry cross by mixing 1½ oz flour with approximately 1½ tablespoons of water. Mix and roll out very thinly, then cut into strips. Moisten the pastry strips and then add to top of buns to form a cross.
Once cooked put the buns on a cooling tray. While they are still warm brush with the sugar glaze. Serve warm or toast!
I like my Hot Cross Buns toasted and served with jam or butter, how do you prefer yours?
Adapted from one of my favorite Delia Smith recipes
We celebrated in grand style. Easter dnnier, an Easter egg hunt for twelve children and ten adults laughing their frocks off.Later a surprise birthday party for a very special family member visiting from England, and later desserts with pots of tea and coffee all between laughter and fellowship.I used to help my grandma make those Hot-Cross buns in her bakery, it was my job to put the X’ on them, not had one in years ;(Hope you are both keeping well !~Jo
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Laughing Out Loud!!! Yes, indeed catch it in the reapets. Those Hot Cross buns look really good! I remember them from childhood, but haven’t had them in donkey’s years.We had a non-traditional Easter dinner,- shrimp stir-fry and whole-grain rice that I fried just enough to toast the grains a little (for that nutty flavour). Korean side-dishes included grated veggies fried in an egg batter, marinated lotus root and garlic, plus spinach salad (with a dressing of lemon juice and sesame oil).Great and Healthy Springtime to you!Hugs, ~ Sil
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Looks like we´ve both been baking buns! Yours look great. I didn´t have much luck with the Delia recipe but sometimes it´s all due to things like the flour, size of eggs etc, I like mine toasted with butter and sometimes a little slice of cheese…weird, I know!
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Hi Chica, I found the temperature recommended was far too hot. They were only in 5 mins and I thought they were going to burn. I had to open the oven door and let the oven cool a bit, and then carry on cooking at a lower temp. I made a note on the recipe above. I can’t get on with her scone recipe. They are like bullets. 🙂 Not sure about the cheese. I like my homemade strawberry jam on them 🙂 Have a good Easter!
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Reblogged this on Piglet in Portugal.
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Hi PiP! I have only heard the rymes, I’ve never tried them! They look wonderful!
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Mmmmm… those look so good! I haven’t had a hot cross bun since I was in high school and worked in a bakery where they were made at Easter time!
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Hi Pip, I wandered over from Noob’s blog because of a comment about your header being busy.
Sorry, I just don’t see a header, all I can see are hot cross buns! Yummy!! I love them warm with the icing all gooey and melty, but if no icing, then with jam.
Of course, with buns this yummy, I just have no friends because I eat them all! Ha!
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Hi Indigo Spider…ha ha Hot Cross buns like spots before the eyes LOL 🙂
Perhaps I’m using the wrong word when I say header. Its the collage of photos under Piglet in Portugal
https://pigletinportugal.wordpress.com/
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Nope, still don’t see it, I see the title then my eyes just see those hot cross buns floating by… I even smell them… do you have some new fangled computer smell-o-vision type thing going on? 😉
Seriously though, no, I don’t think it is busy, I like those pictures. I am also going to vote for you now, good luck!
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Laughing Out Loud!!! Yes, indeed catch it in the reeptas. Those Hot Cross buns look really good! I remember them from childhood, but haven’t had them in donkey’s years.We had a non-traditional Easter dinner,- shrimp stir-fry and whole-grain rice that I fried just enough to toast the grains a little (for that nutty flavour). Korean side-dishes included grated veggies fried in an egg batter, marinated lotus root and garlic, plus spinach salad (with a dressing of lemon juice and sesame oil).Great and Healthy Springtime to you!Hugs, ~ Sil
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Pip
The buns look delicious ! I will have to try out the recipe one day! Thanks for sharing. Hope you are having a nice day, I love hearing your stories about Portugal andyour photos are beautiful.
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Hi thanks Penny 🙂
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PiP, these look beautiful and yummy. Thanks for sharing your recipe and goodwill with us. I’ve never had hot cross buns, but I often make fruit muffins for myself and prefer them hot with butter.
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Hi Ellen…not had hot cross buns…WOW you are missing a treat 🙂
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They look yummy! I like them fresh out of the oven with just a little butter. Happy Easter PiP!
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Hi Shell,
I agree they were delicious straight from the oven…with real butter and jam on 🙂 😳
Happy Easter 🙂
PiP
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I love them with a little icing atop. Yum. Great photos too! 🙂
Eliz
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Hi EO, I never thought of adding icing until NR mentioned above. 🙂
Happy Easter 🙂
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Hi PiP,
I LOVE all kinds of sweet bread recipes…I did a post with an easy hot cross bun recipe that would be perfect if you have children that want to help in the kitchen: http://viviankirkfield.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/make-a-meal-monday-holiday-treats-for-easter-and-passover/
Thanks for your recipe…I’ll have to give it a try.
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Hi vivian,
I checked out the recipe and it sounds great and easy as no yeast 🙂
PiP
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I never heard of them, but toasted and served with jam or butter sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing this interesting fun belief of friendship bonding and yummy recipe.
Happy Easter, my friend! 🙂
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Hi EC…you’ve missed out on a nice treat at Easter 🙂 Do you have a special traditional cake or bread you cook at Easter? 🙂
PiP
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My Mom used to make a bunny cake for Easter (and for my birthday 😉 ). Her cakes were adorable. Back then she was the only person that I ever met that made rabbit cakes. 🙂
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Lovely! My mom waited for them to cool and then drizzled white icing to form the cross on top.
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Hi Nancy what a brilliant idea! Thanks for the tip 🙂 It would certainly be a little less fiddly then making the crosses.
PiP
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Only one thing . . . you can’t really toast the tops with that type of icing on the buns.
But with 4 kids, my mom rarely had to worry about leftovers. 😀
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Hi NR with me you rarely have to worry about left overs either 🙂
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We celebrated in grand style. Easter diennr, an Easter egg hunt for twelve children and ten adults laughing their frocks off.Later a surprise birthday party for a very special family member visiting from England, and later desserts with pots of tea and coffee all between laughter and fellowship.I used to help my grandma make those Hot-Cross buns in her bakery, it was my job to put the X’ on them, not had one in years ;(Hope you are both keeping well !~Jo
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I think the fact they are willing to share is proof that a friendship will endure 🙂
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Tis true Tilly 🙂
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I have only heard the little rhyme that goes with these….this was my first time actually seeing them and I have never had the pleasure of eating any. Hmmm….Maybe I will have to try this recipe some time!
Thanks for sharing!
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Hi Sharon and welcome. They are really delicious and better than the shop bought version. In England we always have hot cross buns at Easter 🙂
PiP
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By the way, yours look delicious!
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Hi Carlaat,
thankyou :oops:…I really enjoyed making them!
I love them with jam 🙂
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I like them toasted with a little bit of butter. And I love the icing! And the candied fruits! Yum!
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Oooo that sounds deuiciols I’ve not been a huge fan of bread pudding in the past (had it in hospital once, needless to say I was less than impressed), but people keep telling me that it is really good maybe it’s time to give it a second chance!
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