Hot Cross Bun
Hot Cross Buns are a popular and tasty yeasted pastry traditionally served before Easter.
The Greeks in 6th century AD may have marked cakes with a cross.[6]
One theory is that the contemporary hot cross bun originates from St Albans, in England, where, in 1361, Brother Thomas Rodcliffe, a 14th-century monk at St Albans Abbey, developed a similar recipe called an 'Alban Bun' and distributed the bun to the local poor on Good Friday.[7]
In 1592, during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, the London Clerk of Markets issued a decree forbidding the sale of hot cross buns and other spiced breads, except at burials, on Good Friday, or at Christmas. The punishment for transgressing the decree was forfeiture of all the forbidden product to the poor. As a result of this decree, hot cross buns at the time were primarily made in domestic kitchens. Further attempts to suppress the sale of these items took place during the reign of James I of England (1603–1625).[8]
The first definite record of hot cross buns comes from a London street cry: "Good Friday comes this month, the old woman runs. With one or two a penny hot cross buns", which appeared in Poor Robin's Almanac for 1733.[9] The line "One a penny, two a penny, hot cross-buns" appears in the English nursery rhyme "Hot Cross Buns" published in the London Chronicle for 2–4 June 1767.[10] Food historian Ivan Day states, "The buns were made in London during the 18th century. But when you start looking for records or recipes earlier than that, you hit nothing."
Homemade hot cross buns
Cooking temperatures:
Oven | °F | °C | Cooking time |
---|---|---|---|
Gas Oven | 350.0 | 180.0 | 14 minutes |
Electric Oven | 375.0 | 190.0 | 15 minutes |
Fan Oven | 325.0 | 170.0 | 13 minutes |
Buns | Prep time | Cooking time | Instructions |
---|---|---|---|
12 | 30min | 1.5h | All quantities as-is |
18 | 40min | 2h | 1.5x all amounts |
24 | 45min | Depending on oven size | 2x all amounts |
Ingredients
For the buns:
For the glazing:
2 tbsp plain flour
vegetable oil
1 tbsp golden syrup
Procedure
Make sure to set aside a space for the buns to rise before baking.
Heat milk and water to lukewarm.
Crumble yeast. Mix with ½ cup (120 mL) flour. Stir in tepid milk/water and mix well.
Cover and set aside in warm place until yeast is active and frothing, about 10-15 minutes.
Mix remaining flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Stir egg and butter into the yeast mix, add the flour mixture and fruit. Mix well.
Put dough onto a floured surface and knead. Return to bowl, and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 hour.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead again.
Preheat oven.
Divide dough into twelve pieces and shape into buns. Mark a deep cross on the top of each bun.
Arrange on a baking tray, cover with tea towel, and let rise for 30 minutes. Cook in preheated oven for indicated time or until golden brown.