Hot Cross Buns

 

Original recipe from the Kitchn.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 c sugar
• 1 T yeast
• 1 c very warm water
• 1/3 c melted butter or other oil
• 1 t orange zest
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c raisins, craisins, or currents
• 1 t salt
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t ground cloves
• 3 1/2 c flour

Orange glaze:

• 2 T c orange juice concentrate, melted
• 2 T butter, melted
• splash of vanilla

Cross frosting: 

• 1/4 c softened butter
• 1/4 c softened cream cheese
• 1/4 t cloves
• 1 1/2 c powdered sugar (or more to desired consistency)
• 1/2 t vanilla (or half vanilla, half maple extract)
• ~2 T milk, or more to taste

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, dump sugar and yeast. Let it bubble (~5 min).
2. In a small glass bowl, melt 1/3 c butter and orange zest. Whisk in water eggs and dried fruit. Slowly pour over yeast and sugar. Let sit 1 min.
3. Add salt, cinnamon, cloves, and 1 c flour. Whisk until well incorporated. Continue adding flour 1/2 c at a time, mixing well with each addition. As dough thickens, abandon spoon and knead with hands until smooth and elastic. Cover; let rise in a warm place 40 min. 
4. Grease a cookie sheet. Punch down dough, dividing into 24 pieces. Roll each into a ball, gently stretching dough across top and folding seams underneath. Lay in pan, 4x6. 
5. Preheat oven to 350. Using kitchen shears, score a cross into the top of each roll. 
6. Make orange glaze a small microwavable bowl by melting butter and orange juice concentrate together, then add vanilla. Brush a thin layer of glaze over the rolls. 
7. Bake rolls 20-25 min until golden brown. Remove from oven to cool.
8. Make cross frosting by creaming butter and cream cheese, then beat in cloves, powder sugar and vanilla. Add milk until desired consistency is reached. Place into a piping bag. 
9. When rolls are cool, pipe frosting into the cross markings on each roll. This can be done in one long stripe across all rolls in each row, first one direction, then the other. Enjoy!