Enjoy this soft and fluffy Hot Cross Buns recipe for your special Easter meal. Traditionally eaten to celebrate Easter, these rolls are slightly sweet and heavenly spiced.
In a medium-sized bowl, pour the hot water over the raisins. Set aside for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, drain the water from the raisins and pat the raisins dry with a paper towel. Set aside.
In a bowl of a stand-up mixer, add the warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Let it sit for 5 to 6 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom. If it does not bloom, restart this step with new yeast. The milk might have been too cold or too hot as well.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger together.
In the bowl of the stand-up mixer, add the remaining sugar, salt, slightly beaten eggs, cream, and butter. Give it a quick mix until combined.
Add the flour mixture, 1/3 at the time. Mix until it is combined and add more. Doing it this way allows the flour to get incorporated and develop gluten.
Once all the flour has been incorporated, mix on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes to develop gluten.
Add the raisins and mix until they're all incorporated.
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
On a lightly floured surface cut the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Place each ball into the prepared baking dish. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Brush the rolls with the egg wash and then bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 23 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the buns cool in the bakeware.
Once the buns are cool, prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and milk into a thick enough consistency to pipe.
Fill a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the glaze. Cut the end off of the bag and pipe the glaze across the buns to create a cross.
Notes
To make it easier to make the cross. Make a line, 90 degrees, length-wise, all across the buns, so 4 lines. Repeat the other way.
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.