When it comes to food at Easter, one of the first things I think of is Hot Cross Buns. But not the ones you can buy in the store, for me, only homemade ones will do!
When you grow having something homemade your entire childhood, it's just gotta stay that way! Thankfully, not only did my mother teach me to enjoy and appreciate homemade baked goods, she also taught me to bake them!
So this morning, Liam and I hit the kitchen together with my Mom's recipe to make Hot Cross Buns. As always, he was eager to help bake but rather disappointed that we would not be putting smarties in the hot cross buns! (I guess smartie cookies are on next weekend's baking agenda!)
Come on Mom, Let's get baking!
Here is the recipe, complete with instructions and photos!
Hot Cross Buns
1 cup warm water
2 tsps sugar
2 tbsp yeast
2 cup milk
1/2 cup margarine
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs, beaten
10 cups flour
1 1/2 cups currants (I use raisins because I like them better.)
Mix dissolve 2 tsp of sugar in the warm water. Sprinkle in yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes. (Note: do this in a bowl where it has space to rise, I use a 2 cup glass measuring cup.)
Melt margarine. In a large bowl, mix milk, margarine, 2/3 cup sugar, salt and cinnamon. After yeast mixture has sat for 10 minutes, stir and add to milk mixture. Add eggs, beat well.
Stir in currants and 3 cups of flour. Add remaining flour 2 or 3 cups at a time, stirring to make a soft dough.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, place in a greased bowl and let rise until doubled in size, usually about an hour.
Punch dough down. Divide into 36 even pieces form into smooth balls. Cut cross on top with a sharp knife. (I usually make mine a little smaller, so that I get 48 buns.)
Allow to rise, again, about an hour.
Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes.
Glaze with sugar water. Ice crosses when cool.
Watching the yeast rise was interesting and provoked a lot of "whys?" but for the most part, Liam was too excited and eager to do stuff that he didn't care about the answers!
Stirring and tasting are the best parts of the job!
Adding the flour in small amounts (2-3 cups at a time) makes it much easier to mix.
Reading for kneading!
"You really want me to use my hands? Are you sure?"
Kneaded and ready to rise.
Risen!
Every little person's favorite part . . . punching down the dough!
Shaping the buns.
Ready to rise again!
Ready to bake!
Baked and cooling!
Finished and waiting to eaten!
Holy Easter bunnies you got a lot out of that batch!
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