Easter Baking (cross posted in World of Mothers)

A while ago, I posted a bread recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Today, I discovered that the same site has a recipe for Hot Cross Buns!! I've never made them, and for some reason, even though my son has grown up and moved out, I've become inspired to try them this year.

The Artisan Bread site says to start with Brioche Dough and add the following:

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon all-spice

1 cup currants

2 teaspoons orange zest.

Make sure it is chilled enough to handle easily. Break off a 1 lb., grapefruit sized piece of dough, and cut into 8 equal sized balls. Make a cross on each. (There are various ways to do this--I think cutting into the bun with a knife is the easiest.

Bake for 20 minutes, remove, and brush with honey. Pipe icing on top of each bun in the form of a cross.

The Artisan Bread site has more complex directions and other variations that you will want to check out.

Something else I tend to forget, is that Hot Cross Buns are apparently a Good Friday tradition in some places.

On Holy Saturday, I usually make a large amount of bread dough, divide into thirds, braid, and tuck in RAW, COLORED eggs equidistantly around the wreath. Bake, and the eggs will cook and make a beautiful Easter Wreath. Lay on a round tray lined with Easter Grass and decorate as you like.

Happy Easter Baking!!!