Mixin' Mom: Hot Cross Buns

Tomorrow is Good Friday and it is tradition to eat Hot Cross Buns! Here is a recipe from Pioneer Woman and they are delicious. A Hot Cross Bun is a small spiced cake that has a white cross on top, made out of royal icing. I used raisins in my buns, but you can use cranberries if you wish. I used my Le Creuset dutch oven to make the dough in and it was the perfect size and easy to just get one bowl dirty. You can probably use your Kitchenaide mixer with dough hook attachment as well. This recipe takes a good 2 hours to complete the buns, but they are worth it! Happy (almost) Easter!

I hope to complete an Easter Braid this weekend and a coconut buttercream Easter cake to share with you all! My in-laws are coming in for Easter and we have some dear friends of ours driving down from Denver for an Easter Brunch - I am so excited to host and try new recipes!

Hot Cross Buns

Buns

- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup raisins

Filling

- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. all spice
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Egg Wash

- 1 egg white
- splash of milk

Frosting

- powdered sugar, I used about 2 cups
- 1 egg white
- 2-3 tbsp. milk

1. In a large pot, scald your milk, sugar, and oil. Take off heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
2. Sprinkle your yeast on top and add your 4 cups of flour. Mix well. Cover with a towel and allow to rest for 1 hour.
3. Add additional 1/2 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well, dough will be sticky.
4. Sprinkle flour on your kitchen counter and flatten your dough with your hands. Sprinkle 1/3 of your cinnamon/sugar mixture on the dough and 1/3 of your raisins.
5. Fold your dough over with raisins and sugar inside and flatten and put another 1/3 of your sugar mixture and 1/3 of your raisins on the dough. Fold over once more and repeat. Fold over your dough again so all sugar and raisins are inside the dough.
6. Pull off golf ball sized dough portions and make a small ball and place on a greased baking sheet.
7. Allow dough to rise with a towel on top for 30 minutes.
8. Brush each bun with the egg wash.
9. Bake buns at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
10. Make your frosting and place in a piping bag or freezer bag (cut a small hole in a corner). Pipe a "cross" on each bun once they have cooled.