Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
One ha’ penny, two ha’ penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
Give them to your sons
One ha’ penny,
Two ha’ penny,
Hot Cross Buns!
With Easter comes one of my favourite things to eat, you guessed it, hot cross buns! Traditionally eaten during Lent, the cross on the bun is a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion which is why in 1592 Elizabeth I issued a decree forbidding the sale of hot cross buns except for Good Friday, Christmas and funerals.
There are also many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns. Hanging a hot cross bun in the kitchen is said to protect against fires and ensures that all bread turns out perfectly (I wonder if Paul Hollywood has tried that one!), and it is said that buns baked on Good Friday will not spoil or mould.
I used this great recipe for hot cross buns from BBC Good Food by Paul Hollywood. I found that my Neff oven cooked the buns a lot quicker than the recommended time, even with the temperature adjustment, so make sure you keep an eye on them! It’s also worth trying to make sure that your sultanas don’t end up on the outside when forming your buns from the dough as they tend to burn and go quite bitter.
Recipe: Hot Cross Buns by Paul Hollywood