An Easter Sunday Easy-Bake Hot Cross Bun Recipe
Whilst Easter Eggs tend to steal all of the limelight around this holiday, there’s a whole host of super easy baking recipes that supply a sweet treat the whole family can enjoy! Enjoy your Easter celebration with a simple Hot Cross Bun. The perfect addition to your afternoon tea, topped with a spot of fruity jam, that will help fuel the Easter egg hunts, don’t forget your basket!
Why Do We Have Easter Eggs?
Eggs are a symbol for new life and renewal during the spring season. The origin of the Easter Egg goes back to ancient cultures, such as the Romans, Egyptians and Persians, where eggs represented rebirth during spring celebrations. The Christian faith adopted this tradition, using eggs to symbolise the rebirth of Jesus and represent the tomb from which he emerged.
Origins of Hot Cross Buns
Whilst maybe not as flashy as the Easter Egg, the hot cross bun has strong ties to the Easter season. These spiced and sweet buns were initially associated with Good Friday, the day commemorating the crucifixion of Christ, due to the cross on the top of the bun. Whether enjoyed as a religious symbol or simply as a delicious treat, hot cross buns continue to hold a special place in Easter celebrations around the world. If you’re looking for some recipe inspiration, we’re here to supply easy baking ideas that will take you from Good Friday through to Easter Monday. And, it takes less than an hour of active time!
Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE DOUGH
150ml milk
50g butter
zest of 1 orange
400g strong white bread flour
7g packet easy-blend yeast
125g mixed dried fruit
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 large egg
FOR THE EGG WASH
1 large egg (beaten with a little milk)
FOR THE CROSS
3 tablespoons plain flour
½ tablespoon caster sugar
FOR THE GLAZE
1 tablespoon caster sugar
Instructions
Heat the milk together with the butter and orange zest until the butter melts, then leave to return to skin temperature. Add an egg to your mixture and beat into the milk.
Tip the flour, yeast and dried fruit into a bowl and add the spices. Mix the dry ingredients together.
Add your milk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until it begins to combine, then begin to knead mixture either by hand or a machine with a dough hook. Knead until the mixture is elastic and smooth.
Form dough into a ball and place into a buttered bowl, cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge overnight.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 7/220 degrees Celsius/ 200 degrees Celsius Fan.
Remove dough from the fridge and let it return to room temperature, then begin kneading the dough again until it is smooth and stretchy. Divide into 16 balls and roll between your hands until they are smooth buns.
Place your dough balls onto baking parchment so that they are close together but not touching. Once on the paper, score the top of the buns with an ordinary knife, in the way the cross will sit on the buns. Cover buns with a tea towel and leave to prove for another 45 minutes.
Beat a large egg with some milk to create your egg wash. Brush the egg wash onto your buns.
Then, create a thick paste with 3 tablespoons of flour, 1/2 tablespoon of caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of water. You can either use a spoon or a piping bag to add the paste to the lines you created by scoring the buns.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Whilst the buns are baking, combine 1 tablespoon of caster sugar with 1 tablespoon of hot water to create the glaze. Once buns are removed from the oven, brush the glaze onto the buns.
Tips for the BEST Hot Cross Buns!
You can choose to add cardamom or cloves to your milk mixture to infuse when the butter is melted, to add a lovely fragrance to your hot cross buns! Dried fruit can also be soaked in tea overnight to make them soft and squishy if you prefer them that way.
Serve your hot cross buns with an array of cream, jams and butter to delight your friends and family this easter! Show off your baking skills and try your hand at making your very own hot cross buns.
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