Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday

I am yet to see these in the stores here in Florida, but if I was back in Australia I would see them in every supermarket and bakery, the traditional "Hot Cross Buns" for Good Friday. I miss this tradition and because we're going out of town this Easter I may need to make these ahead of time.

Ok, so the hot cross bun, or cross-bun is a type of sweet spiced bun made with currants or raisins and leavened with yeast. It has a cross marked on the top which might be effected in one of a variety of ways including: pastry, flour and water mixture, rice paper, icing, or intersecting cuts. In many historically Christian countries, buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion.

According to Wikipedia :) English folklore includes many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns. One of them says that buns baked and served on Good Friday will not spoil or become mouldy during the subsequent year....hmmm, year-old buns sound delicious :)

Enough of my hoo-ha, let's get to the recipe :)

Ingredients

* 1 envelope (1/4-ounce) dry yeast

* 3/4 cup sugar

* 1 1/2 cups warm milk (about 110 degrees F.)

* 1 stick of butter, melted

* 1 egg

* 1/2 cup of raisins

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

* 3 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

* 1 large egg, beaten

* 1 cup powdered sugar

* 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

Combine the yeast, sugar and milk in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Add the butter, egg and raisins. Mix for 1 minute. Add the salt, cardamom and flour. Beat on low speed until all of the flour is incorporated, about 1 minute. Then, beat at medium speed until the mixture forms a ball, leaves the sides of the bowl, and climbs up the dough hook. Remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and set-aside in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the bowl and invert it onto a lightly floured surface. Pat the dough into a rectangle about 3/4-inch thick. Roll up the dough, beginning with the long side and stopping after each full turn to press the edge of the roll firmly into the flat sheet of the dough to seal. Press with your fingertips. Tuck and roll so that any seams disappear into the dough. Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a smooth, round ball. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Place the rolls on the baking sheet, 1/2-inch apart. With a pastry brush, brush the beaten egg evenly over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and set-aside in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. Bake until lightly brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly on a rack. In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar and milk. Mix until smooth. Ice each bun with the frosting in the shape of a cross. Serve warm.

Enjoy!