For your Easter table: hot cross buns
Sure, they’re yummy and don’t cost hundred of Rands either. But where do hot cross buns come from and why are they significant at this time of the year?
Hot cross buns are said to have religious significance for Christians - especially Catholics - as they were once reserved for Good Friday alone, as a marker of the end of Lent.
At the same time, thekitchn.com notes that these buns with a symbolic Christian cross were also eaten throughout Lent - and thus not only reserved for the end of this period of prayer and submission.
If you grew up in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and India, hot cross buns are more than likely a feature of your life this time of the year, regardless of your religion.
Here’s capetownmagazine.com’s recipe showing you how to make them:
Ingredients
2 cups white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
2 cups all-purpose white flour
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
2/3 cup raisins, currants, or golden raisins (or a mix)
Finely grated zest of half an orange
1/4 heaping teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice
2 teaspoons fine salt
3 1/2 tablespoons castor sugar
1 medium egg
3 1/2 tablespoons butter
In a bowl, combine the flours, water, milk, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add the egg and butter and mix to a sticky dough.
Then, add the dried fruit, orange zest, and spices and knead until silky and smooth. Cover the dough and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
Deflate the risen dough and divide into 8 equal pieces. Shape into rounds and dust with flour. Place on a floured board, cover with plastic wrap or cloth, and let proof for about 30 minutes, until roughly doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 200 °C. To make the crosses, whisk together flour and water until smooth, then transfer to a pastry bag and snip off the end to make a fine hole (or use a plastic food bag with a corner snipped off). Transfer the risen buns to a baking sheet and pipe a cross on top of each one, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt jam and water in a pan. Brush over the buns to glaze as you take them from the oven. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve hot, cross, or toasted.
There are variations on hot cross bun making - watch this video for an alternative: