Hot Cross Bun Recipes like Dutch Oven Rolls and More

The hot cross bun recipes are the most famous of Easter breads served throughout the Christian countries. In countries like England it is the tradition to bake these delicious rolls on Good Friday morning and eaten for breakfast. Of course enough are usually baked to last through the Easter weekend. These special rolls or buns (whatever you want to call them) are round in shape and have a cross indented on the top of each signifying the cross of Christ. French toast and quiche Lorraine are other popular breakfasts for Easter weekend but especially Easter morning.

The hot cross bun recipe was introduced to England by the Romans back in pre Christian times. The tradition of the rolls is said to have begun when one of the monks at St. Alban’s Abbey baked them as gifts to the poor. It is hard to believe these delicious sweet tasting, slightly spiced buns could have led such a controversial life since their origination. The hot cross bun recipe, often made with raisins, currants or other fruit, have often been found offensive; so much so that at times they were banned from being served.

There are all kinds of beliefs (or superstitions) pertaining to the hot cross bun recipe. These Good Friday rolls as the story goes, unlike regular bread, will never grow moldy if kept for a long time. (I think they say this because if you have ever eaten these buns you know how good they are. They never last long enough to get moldy.) Stale buns have a history of being used for medicinal purposes as they were grated into medicines. Stale ones also were used as charms against shipwrecks, for keeping rats out of the corn, and were hung from the ceiling as a good luck charms for the family.

HOT CROSS BUN RECIPE

• 1 Cup scalded milk
• 3 Tablespoons soft butter
• 1/3 Cup sugar
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• ½ Cake yeast
• ¼ Cup warm water
• Flour (about 5 cups)
• 1 Beaten egg
• ¾ Teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ Cup seedless raisins or finely diced candied fruits

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Combine scalded milk, butter, sugar and salt: Cool to lukewarm.

Soften yeast in warm water; stir and combine with cooled milk mixture; add about half of flour, cinnamon and beaten egg; mix well. Add enough of remaining flour to make soft dough; mix thoroughly.

Turn dough out on a lightly floured board and knead about 10 minutes, or until smooth and satiny.

Place dough in a warm greased bowl; brush surface lightly with melted butter. Cover and let rise in a warm place about 2 hours or until double in bulk.

Turn out on and lightly knead in raisins or fruit. Shape into balls about 1 ½ to 1 #/4 inches in diameter; Place in a greased 8x8 inch square pan.

Brush with egg yolk diluted with a little water.

Cover and let rise until double in bulk.

Bake for about 30 minutes.

When cool make a cross of powdered sugar icing on each bun.

HOT CROSS BUN RECIPE

This recipe is made with a basic sweet dough recipe which can be used to make many different types of bread.

Basic Sweet Dough Recipe

• ¼ Cup milk
• ¼ Cup sugar
• ½ Teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• ¼ Cup warm water (105 to 115F degrees)
• 1 Package dry yeast
• 1 Beaten egg
• 2 ¼ Cups sifted flour

Additions for Hot Cross Buns

• ½ Teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ Teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ Cup currants
• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped citron or lemon peel
• ¾ Cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon milk
• ½ Teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat milk in a small saucepan just until bubbles form around edges; remove from heat.

Add sugar, salt and butter stirring until butter melts; cool to lukewarm.

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl stirring until dissolved; stir mixture into milk mixture.

Add egg, 1 ½ cups flour and cinnamon and nutmeg (from hot cross buns); beat to blend.

Add rest of flour with currants and citron (from hot cross buns);

Beat with spoon until smooth and dough leaves sides of bowl.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface; knead until dough is satiny and elastic and blisters appear.

Place in a large greased bowl and turn to grease top side; cover and let rise in warm place until double.

Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and with hands shape dough into roll 12 inches long.

Cut roll crosswise into nine pieces; shape each piece into a ball and tuck edges under to make smooth surface.

Arrange balls in a greased 9 X 9 inch baking pan; with palm of hand flatten each ball to 2 inch round.

Cover and let rise in warm place until double in bulk; with sharp knife cut cross on each roll.

Bake at 375F degrees about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Drizzle powdered sugar glaze over hot buns.

DUTCH OVEN ROLLS

A hot cross bun recipe can even be baked over campfires or on your grill in a Dutch oven.

• 2 Packages dry yeast
• 2 ½ Cups scalded milk, cool to lukewarm
• ½ Cup packed brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 5 Tablespoon softened butter
• 6 to 7 Cups flour divided
• ½ Cup dried currants
• ½ Cup chopped nuts
• 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
• Oil
• 1 Pound powdered sugar
• Milk

Dissolve yeast in warm milk.

Combine and mix brown sugar, butter and salt in a bowl; add 3 cups flour and yeast mixture.

Mix in currants and nuts; continue adding and mixing the remaining flour a little at a time until soft dough forms.

Add cinnamon and knead well; place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and let rise until double in bulk.

Shape dough into balls and place in lightly oiled 12 inch

Dutch oven; let rise until double in size.

Bake at 400F degrees for 30 to 35 minutes (8-10 hot coals on bottom and 18 to 20 hot coals on top).

When done remove from oven; mix powdered sugar with enough milk to make glaze and drizzle over rolls.

More Great Easter Recipes

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