Delicious Hot Cross Buns
Description
This yeast-leavened hot cross buns recipe with raisins is flavored with ground cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Pipe a simple icing for the crosses.
Ingredients
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1 1/4 cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
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1/3 cup white sugar
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2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
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4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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1 teaspoon ground allspice
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
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1/4 cup butter
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1 1/2 cups raisins
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2 eggs
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1/4 cup water
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2 tablespoons apricot jam, warmed and strained
Directions
1
Whisk warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Cover and let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
2
Sift 4 ¾ cups flour, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl.; rub in butter with your fingers until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in raisins, eggs, and yeast mixture; mix until well combined.
3
Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with a towel; set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
4
Punch down risen dough with your fist; transfer to a flat surface and knead for 1 minute. Divide into 12 pieces; roll into buns.
5
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
6
Arrange buns neatly in the prepared baking dish, cover the dish with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
7
Whisk ½ cup flour and water together in a small bowl to form a smooth paste, transfer to a piping bag, and carefully pipe a cross onto bun tops.
8
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until buns risen and golden in color, about 15 minutes more. Immediately brush buns with warmed apricot jam.