Hot Cross Buns

Easter always means hot cross buns at our house.  It was something that I always remembered from my childhood, (that wonderful rich sweet dough filled with fruit and the little icing cross on the top as a reminder of the holiday).  I noticed this week that several of the local bakers and grocers were selling their hot cross buns for $5.00 a dozen, (and some for even more)!!  Such an outrageous price.  Just a couple of hours, and a couple of dollars will give you a dozen of wonderful buns that you will be delighted to serve.  Let me show you my recipe.

For the rolls you will need:
1/4 cup rum
1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/4 cup + 1 Tabs. milk, (room temperature)
3 large eggs
6 Tabs butter, (room temperature)
2 Teas. instant yeast
1/4 cup brown sugar, (firmly packed)
1 teas ground cinnamon
1/4 teas allspice
1/4 teas ground nutmeg
1 3/4 teas salt
1 Tabs baking powder
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

For the icing you will need:
1 cup + 2 Tabs confectioners' sugar
1/2 teas vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 teas milk

In a small bowl combine the dried fruit and rum.

Note:  you can substitute apple juice, or even water with rum extract, but I find the rum gives the rolls a much better taste, and don't worry the alcohol burns off.

Cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for a couple of minutes to soften the fruit and warm the liquid.  Set aside, to cool to room temperature.

You will notice that the liquid is absorbed by the fruit, this is a good sign.

With your stand mixer, (and dough hooks), in a large bowl add 2 eggs and 1 egg yoke.  Keep the egg white, (you will use it for the dough topping).

Add 1 1/4 cups of room temperature milk and 6 Tabs. butter.

Add the yeast.

Add the brown sugar, (break up the sugar and sprinkle it into the bowl).

Turn on the mixer for a minute on low to incorporate everything.

 Add the cinnamon.

Add the allspice.

Add the nutmeg.

Add the salt.

Add the baking powder.

Turn on the mixer, and start adding the flour.

Keep mixing until the dough comes together.

Note:  If you want to make the dough in a bread machine Place all the ingredients into the dough pan, (in the order that your machine suggests), and start on the dough cycle.   I have made this both ways and both ways give the same results.

Once the dough comes together, add the mixed fruit, (and if there is any liquid add that also).

Add the raisins.  Continue mixing until the dough has formed elasticity.


Note:  if you are using your bread machine, watch until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bread pan, then add the fruit and the raisins and let the machine continue the dough making process.

You will know your dough has formed it's gluten when you pick up a piece and pull on it and it has a window effect without tearing, (it has elasticity).

Remove the bowl from the mixer, cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.

Note:  If using your bread machine, when the machine signals that the dough is ready, transfer to a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow and dough to rise for 1 hour.

It has been 1 hour, and you can already smell the wonderful dough with the fruit flavors, and the sweet dough flavor.  These are going to be some extra special buns.

Spray a 9 X 13 inch baking pan with non-stick baking spray.

Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Roll each piece into a good palm sized ball, (about 1/3 cup size / or a muffin scoop sized).

Place the balls in the greased pan.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and a clean towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour.  Notice that I leave plenty of space between each bun for expansion.

It's been 1 hour and the buns have doubled and they now fill the pan.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

While the oven is preheating, in a small bowl to the 1 egg white that you reserved from the dough, add 1 Tab. of room temperature milk.  Stir well to incorporate.

Brush the milk topping over each bun.  Bake the buns for 20 minutes, until the buns are golden brown.

After 20 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before removing from pan.

Once the buns are cool enough to handle, remove from the pan, transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

While the buns are cooling, make the icing.

In a small bowl combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, 4 Tabs of milk.

Stir well.  You want a stiff icing.  Transfer to a piping bag, (I use a clear sandwich bag, that you clip the corner from, for a quick pipping bag).

Once the buns are COMPLETELY COOLED, pipe a cross on each bun, (after all that's why these buns got their name).

 Let the icing set up for a few minutes and you are ready to serve.

As you can see, the buns are flaky inside.   And the dough has a nice wonderful sweet flavor.

Give these buns are try for your Easter table.


Enjoy!

Christmas Popcorn

Twelve years ago, I took a class on "Making Christmas Gifts From Your Kitchen".  One of the recipes we learned from Angel Shannon, was how to make Christmas Popcorn.  I have been making this for my husband's co-workers, our friends and family ever since - and it is a big hit with everyone.  Some of my husband's co-workers have jokingly referred to it as their "Christmas cocaine".  Even though I give them enough to take home, not once have any of them managed to save any by the end of the day for anyone else in their family to share their popcorn.  It's a quick, simple recipe, and it makes quite a lot, (11 cups).  You can easily double the recipe.  And the best part - it's all microwave cooking !

You will need:
8 cups of popped popcorn
1 cup cocktail peanuts
1 cup Christmas M&M candies
1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 pound white candy coating
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

an extra large bowl
a medium microwave safe bowl
wax paper

First, you need to pop your popcorn.

It doesn't matter if you use microwave popcorn, or regular, top of the stove, popcorn.

Note:  If you use microwave popcorn, I find that 2 packages will usually make 8 cups, (but have a 3rd, just in case).  When I find them on sale 4 for $1, then I buy 12, so I have them in the pantry when I'm ready to use them.

The Christmas M&M candies will be in the red and green colors, but if you want to use the multi-colored M&Ms that's OK.  I just use the plain, not the peanut M&Ms.  You can even use the bulk brand of M&M candies.

Pour the 8 cups of popped corn into the EXTRA large bowl.  Make sure not to get any of the non popped kernels, (this is why I always have a 3rd bag of microwave popcorn on hand - in case there are a lot of  un-popped kernels).

Pour in 1 cup of M&M candies.

Pour in 1 cup of cocktail peanuts.

Pour in 1 1/2 cups of crispy rice cereal.

Note:  you can use the brand "Rice Krispies" cereal, or any brand of a crispy rice cereal.

Now gently stir everything together.

Pour the white, (vanilla), candy coating in a medium microwave safe bowl,

 Add in 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter.

Heat on high in the microwave until melted and creamy.

Note:  I heat mine on 30 second increments, and give it a stir so it doesn't burn.  It usually takes about 2 minutes total.

 While the candy and peanut butter is melting, lay out a couple sheets of wax paper, (about 2 feet in length,each).

OK  - the candy and peanut butter are melted and nice and smooth.  Now we are going to make the magic happen !

Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn mixture, evenly.

Give the popcorn mixture a good stir, to make sure that the peanut butter mixture evenly coats all the popcorn mixture.

Now spread the popcorn mixture out on the wax paper.

 As you can see, there's quite a lot.

Let the popcorn set and harden, (about 1 hour).  Then break into pieces, and box or bag your Christmas popcorn for gift giving.

But make sure to save some for yourself.  Kids, (and husbands),  especially love this stuff.

While the popcorn is cooling, I make up bag toppers for my husband.  Then we fill up bags, add the toppers, and they are ready to go.

You could also use a Christmas tin for your popcorn.

Give it a try.  It a delicious treat, that's quick, easy, and inexpensive.

Enjoy !