Hot Cross Buns

It is believed a very popular Lenten tradition is the Hot Cross Bun. In Europe these buns were baked for Good Friday. 

LOS ANGELES, CA - It is believed they originated at St. Alban's Abbey in England around the fourteenth century. The monks distributed them to the poor on Good Friday in place of their traditional buns. The buns became so popular that they began serving them throughout Lent.
Hot Cross BunsINGREDIENTS:3/4 cup warm water2 teaspoons dry yeast1 tablespoon powdered milk1/4 cup maple syrup1/2 cup oatmeal2 1/2 cups flour2 tablespoons butter1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon apple pie spice1/2 cup chocolate chipsCross Paste1/4 cup flour1/4 cup waterGlaze1/2 cup orange marmalade
DIRECTIONS:Combine the warm water into the bottom of your mixer. Add the yeast and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. It should get bubbly. Meanwhile, butter the inside of a large plastic bowl.Use your dough hook attachment and on low speed, add the powdered milk and the maple syrup.Mix for a minute or two then add the oatmeal, flour, butter, salt, spice and chocolate chips. Continue kneading scraping down down sides of your bowl and the dough hook if necessary, about five minutes. Add chocolate chips and knead with dough hook until incorporated.Knead into a ball and place in prepared buttered bowl. Cover with a clean towel and allow to rise until doubled in size about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn dough onto work surface and make into a log. cut log into 12 pieces. Form into balls and place into a buttered baking dish (I used a 9x13). Again allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Here is how I made the crosses on the top.Mix flour with water. Put the cross paste in a pipping bag, or you can use a Ziploc bag with a cut at the end.Pipe crosses on the top of each bun.Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.Put the marmalade in a medium bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, or until warm.Brush heated marmalade over buns.Serve warm.
Peace be with you,
Veronica

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO HELP FEED THE HUNGRY

---