Easter Hot Cross Buns

This is a traditional, slightly sweet, spiced treat eaten during Lent and on Good Friday. Serve at room temperature or warm.

Original recipe makes 16 buns

Ingredients

3/4 cup lukewarm milk, divided
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided, or more as needed
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup softened butter
2 large eggs
3/4 cup golden raisins, chopped
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
Glaze:
1 egg white
1 tablespoon milk
Frosting:
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons milk

PREP

40 mins
COOK

12 mins
READY IN

3 hrs 52 mins

Directions

Stir 1/4 cup milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar together in a small bowl; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
Whisk 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Stir yeast mixture, 1/2 cup milk, softened butter, and eggs into flour mixture with a wooden spoon until well incorporated; stir in raisins and marmalade. Dough will be sticky.
Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup flour onto work surface; turn dough onto surface and knead, incorporating additional flour as needed, until tacky but not sticking to fingers, about 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball.
Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with a clean towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
Deflate dough; divide into 16 equal pieces and form into round buns. Place buns 1 1/2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheets; cover with a light cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Whisk egg white and 1 tablespoon milk together in a small bowl. Use a sharp knife to score a deep cross on top of each bun; brush buns with egg wash.
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove to cool completely on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.
Place confectioners’ sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons milk in a plastic sandwich bag; knead the bag until combined. Snip off one corner of the bag; pipe a cross into the scored lines on each bun.