Easter for children means two things: chocolate and hot cross buns. Chocolate comes wrapped in foil from the store while hot cross buns usually come wrapped in plastic from the same store. But not this year.
This year, hot cross buns actually come hot from your own oven, and, it's really easy.
For someone who has never made bread before, making hot cross buns may seem a little daunting but you don't need any fancy equipment. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions.
In Australia and New Zealand, hot cross buns are traditionally eaten in the days leading up to Easter. They are made with yeast, flour, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, sultanas, dried orange rind and a mixture of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. The cross is simply made by piping dough across the top of the buns just before baking them.
The practice of eating hot cross buns is believed to date back to the spring festivals of the ancient Greeks where small, spiced cakes were eaten during celebrations. According to English folklore buns or loaves baked on Good Friday would never go mouldy and were often kept as charms.
In my experience hot cross buns are at their most charming straight out of the oven.
Photo: © S. Wongkaew (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc
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