Hot Cross Buns

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1 cup warm milk (110 to 115)
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 egg, lightly beated
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2-3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon mace
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• icing
• 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 -3 teaspoons milk

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in milk. let stand for 5 minutes. add the butter, raisins, egg, salt, lemon rind, orange rind, lemon juice, mace, nutmeg and remaining sugar; beat until smooth. stir in enough flour to form a soft dough.
• 2 turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic about 6-8 minutes. place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled about 1-1/4 hours.
• 3 punch dough down. turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 12 portions. (don't pull dough, cut it)shape each into a ball. place in a greased 13 inches x 9 in baking pan. cover and let rise until doubled about 45 minutes. bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until browned. remove from the pan to a wire rack to cool.
• 4 for icing combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve a piping consistency. pipe a cross on top of each bun. makes 1 dozen.
• 5 (when i take out of oven i immediately brush some icing over top with a pastry brush and when they cool pipe the cross on them).