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
• 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. 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, 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. 
4. Grease a 9x13 pan. Punch down dough, dividing into 12-18 pieces. Roll each into a ball, gently stretching dough across top and folding seams underneath. Lay in pan. 
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 golen brown. While baking, prepare cross ingredients. 
8. In a small bowl, mix together all cross ingredients. Place into a piping bag. When rolls come out of oven, pipe it 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!