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
• 2 eggs
• 1 t orange zest
• 1/2 c raisins, craisins, or currents
• 1 t salt
• 1 t cinnamon
• 3 1/2 c flour

Orange glaze:

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

Cross ingredients: 

• ½ cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, dump sugar and yeast. In a small glass bowl, melt 1/3 c butter. Whisk in water eggs, orange zest, and dried fruit. Slowly pour over yeast and sugar. Let sit 1 min.
2. Add salt, cinnamon, and 1 c flour. Whisk until well incorporated. Continue adding flour 1/2 c at a time, mixing well with each addition. As dough thickins, abandon spoon and knead with hands until smooth and elastic. Cover; let rise in a warm place 40 min. 
3. Grease a 9x13 pan. Punch down dough, dividing into 12-18 pieces. Roll each into a ball, stretching dough across top and folding seams underneath. Lay in pan. 
4. Preheat oven to 350. Using kitchen shears, score a cross into the top of each roll. 
5. Make orange glaze a small microwavable bowl. Melt butter and orange juice concentrate together, then add vanilla. Brush a thin layer of glaze over the rolls. 
6. Bake rolls 20-25 min until golen brown. While baking, prepare cross ingredients. In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients. Place into a piping bag. When rolls come out of oven, pipe it into the cross markings on each roll.