Easter Recipes - Hot Cross Buns and More

In several Christian countries I believe that the Easter buns were made with a cross on them as a symbol of the crucifixion.  These were traditionally eaten on every Good Friday.

 

Hot cross buns, yummy!!  I love to eat them and every year I can’t wait for them to appear in the shops.  Here are some festive recipes to make this Easter.  Now it‘s  okay making them, but that does not mean that you have to eat them all. Leave some for me please.

Ingredients

4 cups plain flour

1 sachet 7g dried yeast

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon Mixed spice

¼ cup sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

60 g melted butter

1 egg

1-1/2 cups milk

½ cup sultanas or mixed fruit

Method

Mix together dry ingredients including yeast in a large bowl.

Make a well in the center, add milk and beaten egg and melted butter

Mix to a soft dough

Beat using a dough hook until dough no sticks to the bowl, or you can knead well on a lightly floured board until the dough is shiny and smooth

Now place the dough in a well greased bowl and sprinkle with a few drops of warm water then cover with a damp cloth. Put in a warm place until it doubles in size about an hour.

Punch down and knead fruit into dough.

Divide dough into equal sized portions (approx 15-18) and roll into small balls. Place into a lightly greased scone tray or other flat tray.

Allow them to rise to double size in warm place (approx 20 mins)

While rising pipe the crosses on top

Cross Mixture

2 tablespoons SR flour and 2 tablespoons cold water

Bake 15 minutes. While still hot brush all over with bun glaze

Glaze for buns

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon mixed spice

¼ cup water

Mix all together in a saucepan and boil for ten minutes.

Now all you need to do is cut in half spread with butter and start eating………Yummy, Gee I cannot get enough of these.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

Yeast sachet

1 teaspoon caster sugar

150 ml warm milk

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup chocolate chips

50g butter chopped up

2 tablespoons caster sugar

1 egg

Method

Heat oven to 200c Combine milk, yeast and sugar in a container and leave in warm place until frothy for five to ten minutes

Sift cinnamon and flour in a large bowl using your fingers rub in butter until mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in chocolate chips and sugar.

Whisk the eggs into yeast mixture and add to the flour and mix together to a soft dough. Turn out onto floured board then knead for ten minutes until dough is like elastic.

Place into a greased bowl and cover with plastic and leave in warm place for about forty five minutes or doubled in size.

Punch dough with fist to remove air. Knead again and divide into about 30 equal parts. Knead each piece until smooth and roll into round shape. Then place in a greased flat tray or pan. Cover with plastic and leave for twenty minutes in warm place until double its size again.

Tip: if you want bigger buns reduce number you make

Cross ingredients

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 tablespoons plain flour

2 tablespoons water

Method

Mix ingredients in a small bowl to a smooth paste. Pipe crosses on buns. Bake for ten to fifteen minutes, or sound hollow when tapped.

Glaze Ingredients
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons caster sugar

Method

Combine water and sugar in saucepan and stir over low heat for two or three minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil, do not stir then reduce heat and simmer for another minute or so. until mixture thickens. Brush over hot buns. Cool on a cake cooler rack.

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar

3tablespoon margarine

4 cups cornflakes

1 tablespoon honey or golden syrup

1 pkt tiny paper covered easter eggs

 

Method

 

Melt butter, honey and sugar in a saucepan and remove from heat when it looks fluffy. In another bowl add cornflakes then pour mixture over the cornflakes and mix thoroughly.

 

Place spoonfuls into patty papers and them push down in centre ( this is to leave hollow for chocolate eggs to go in later)

Bake for approx fifteen minutes in moderate oven.  When cool place two chocolate eggs in each one.

 

These are a great favorite with the kids. These give the effect of eggs sitting on straw.