As we look forward to celebrating Easter this Sunday, Penny and I decided to make some hot cross buns to enjoy with my family when they gather on that special day. I enjoy the flavor of these rolls with the sweet bits of fruit inside. I found my recipe on the Taste of Home website: Traditional Hot Cross Buns. Lets gather the ingredients, Penny.
Let’s take time to write out the recipe to be handy as we work here at the counter.
Penny is the reigning Kitchen Queen with her giant wooden spoon!
She watches over me as I mix the yeast into the warm milk and let it rise. I love the frothy stage of growing yeast.
Penny prepares the eggs, two large homegrown eggs from our hen house, to be exact.
Next, I got a bright idea, for the quarter cup of sugar called for in the recipe, I used pure Merle’s maple sugar from where my brother works tapping trees for springtime syrup making.
We add all these ingredients to the bowl of starter, including the soft butter, and the cinnamon and allspice.
Today we are using the KitchenAid mixer and I tell Penny to step back as it whirls around energetically. Be careful there, little girl!
I add one extra rising in here, to make a nice dough. I let it rise in the mixer bowl before I knead it on the counter.
Once it reaches this high, I dump it on the counter and begin the kneading process.
Keep your hands well floured, Penny, so you don’t get sticky!!
Now we cut them into divisions and roll them smooth, with hints of the dried fruit peeking out. I made two pans of a larger and small size, and let them rise before baking.
I let them rise a bit too much before cutting the “X” on top, so its not quite so distinct. Oh well.
Come celebrate with me as we sample our finished Hot Cross Buns with the frosting added, accompanied by spring flowers picked fresh from my garden.
Let’s celebrate the Easter season together.
Its wonderful to have fresh daffodils, so cheery and bright.
I have been enjoying this very special song, An Easter Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen and lyrics by Kelley Mooney. It is such a hauntingly beautiful song of praise sung here by Cassandra and Callahan Armstrong.
The lyrics begin with:
“A crown of thorns placed on His head
He knew that He would soon be dead
He said, “Did you forget me, Father did you?”
They nailed Him to a wooden cross
Soon all the world would feel the loss
Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!”
And they follow the story all the way to the empty tomb, and the risen Lord, Hallelujah!
Have a Blessed Easter, my friends. ♥ Christ is risen indeed!!
