Hot Cross Buns~Mennonite Style

Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns
One a penny, two a penny

Hot cross Buns

If you have no daughters,

Give them to your sons,

One a penny, two a penny

Hot Cross Buns!

Always a favourite at our house, I tried and tweaked recipes

until I came up with one I like. These have the dough crosses on them and a honey glaze. 

Turlock, California, in the central farming area, has a large population of Mennonites. I  often see the mothers wearing bonnets with their kids picking out items at Walmart. There are alot of Mennonites on staff at our hospitals too. Imagine my surprise when all ready for a colonoscopy, I discovered the drug aide was a lovely Mennonite woman with bonnet under her surgical gear.  They are all so friendly and like it when we ask about their religion.

Hot Cross Bun Recipe:

2 cups scalded milk

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. salt

3 eggs, lightly beaten

7 1/2 - 8 1/2 cups flour, divided

(you can use about 2 cups whole wheat flour if you like)

2 Tbsp. instant yeast

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

2/3 cup sultana raisins, washed and patted dry

2/3 cup fruitcake mix (candied fruit, with or withou peel)

grated rind of 1 orange

Mix warmed milk, margarine and water until margarine melts.

In large bowl of mixer, combine 4 cups flour, yeast, salt, sugar and spices.

In meduim bowl, dredge fruit and raisins in 1/2 cup flour. Set aside.

Pour in milk/margarine mixture.

Using beater attachment of mixer, turn on mixer and gradually add beaten eggs.

Change to dough hook and add floured raisins and fruit and grated rind.

Mix and gradually add flour until mixture begins to form a ball.

Mix for 5 minutes or knead by hand until dough is smooth and elastic.

Place in greased bowl cover with greased plastic and a clean towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.

Grease two 9x13 pans and one 9x9 pan. or 3 9x13 pans.

Form buns and place in pans.

Cover again and let rise until doubled.

Mix dough for crosses:

1 cup flour

5 Tbsp. shortening or lard

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of salt

about 1/2 - 2/3 cup water

Cut shortening into flour, sugar and salt.

Add water and stir well - dough should be sticky and somewhat soft.

Place dough into a piping bag with a 1/4 inch tip. Set aside.

Brush buns with 1 egg yolk whisked together with 1 Tbsp. water.

Pipe crosses on, using a knife to cut off the dough from the tip.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 17- 20 minutes.

Remove to rack. Cool for 1/2 hour.

Mix honey glaze in microwave safe bowl:

1 Tbsp. honey

2 tbsp. water

Microwave for 1 minute.

Brush over buns.

These freeze well.