Hot Cross Buns

Posted By North Star.

Ingredients.

3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup currants or raisins
1/3 cup candied citron fruit

Yeast Mixture-
1 Tbls. dry yeast
1 Tbls. sugar
2/3 cup warm milk
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup flour

Glaze-
2 Tbls. milk
2 Tbls. water
3 Tbls. sugar

Directions.


Hot Cross Buns are eaten in Scotland at Easter time, and indeed they are eaten in other parts of Britain, but for many Scots they seem quintessentially Scottish!

Mix all yeast ingredients in a bowl. Set aside to foam. Sift flour, salt, spice, and sugar in a second bowl. Add fruits, mix well. Mix butter, eggs and add to yeast mixture. Add yeast mixture to flour mixture. Knead dough on floured surface, 8-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Add more flour, if needed to keep dough from sticking. Divide into 12 equal pieces, shape into round buns. Place rolls far apart on a greased baking sheet. Cover, let rise at warm room temperature for 45 minutes. Use a sharp knife to cut an X-shape on the dough surface.
Bake in oven at 425F/218C for 15-20 minutes or until golden; cool on rack.
Make glaze by bringing ingredients to boil in a saucepan for 2 minutes. Brush glaze over buns thickly.