Hot Cross Buns

Today I made Hot Cross Buns! I have always wanted to make Hot Cross Buns and I must say they turned out awesome and were surprising easy to make. I read so many Hot Cross Bun recipes online and finally settled on the recipe fromwww.jocooks.com and her recipe was easy to follow and I had every ingredient already in my cupboard and refrigerator. Add if I can make homemade Hot Cross Buns - so can you!

Ingredients for Buns:

1 1/2 cups milk, lukewarm

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs

4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick) softened

1 cup raisins

Syrup Glaze:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

Cream Cheese Icing:

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 tablespoon water

Directions:

In a small bowl combine the lukewarm milk, sugar and yeast. Stir and let it rest for 10 minutes. Once the bubbles start forming you will know that the yeast is activating.

In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook add the 4 cups of flour, salt and nutmeg.

Add the eggs and butter to the activated yeast mixture and stir until combined.

Add the yeast mixture to the flour and mix on medium-low for 5 minutes. Add the raisins and continue to mix for another minute.

The dough should be elastic and not stuck to the side of the bowl.

In a large bowl add a tablespoon of canola oil and use a paper towel to spread the oil all around the bowl.

Add the dough to the bowl rolling the dough around so that it is completely covered with oil.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place in your kitchen and let rise for 2 hours until the dough is almost doubled in size.

Get out a large casserole type pan - I used a 13" x 9" glass pan. Lightly spray the bottom of the pan with a non-stick baking spray.

Divide the dough into 15 equal balls. Roll the balls until they are smooth.

Cover the buns with a clean damp cloth and place in a warm place in your kitchen for 1/2 hour until they are doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Once the buns have doubled in size they will be ready for the oven,

Bake the buns in the 375 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes until they are a light golden brown.

 While the buns are baking the syrup and icing can be prepared.

To make the syrup bring the water and sugar to a boil on low heat. Let the mixture boil for a minute or two until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.

To make the icing whisk all of the ingredients together and put the mixture into a zipper topped bag and put it in the refrigerator until it is ready to use.

When the buns come out of the oven brush them with the sugar syrup.

The sugar syrup gives the buns a beautiful shine.  Let the buns cool for 10 minutes.

Remove the icing from refrigerator. Push the icing down to one corner and twist. Snipe off a small piece and start piping the crosses.

A perfect snack with a cup of tea. Easter is one of my favorite holidays and I hope that  everyone has a blessed Easter with family and friends.