Hot cross buns

April 18, 2014

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!

Hot cross buns are a Good Friday tradition at our house. After the noon Good Friday service, we have them with tea mid- to late afternoon. Legend has it that a 12th century monk was the first to mark a cross on a bun, with a knife, prior to baking. They became popular throughout England, and were associated with Easter. Queen Elizabeth I thought they were too special to eat any old time, and in 1592, outlawed their use except on Christmas or Easter, or for burials. If you were caught making and selling them illegally, you had to give them to the poor.

 I've been busy, and so didn't think I'd make them from scratch this year, as I usually do. I looked for them at the grocery store Thursday, but couldn't bring myself to buy them. The ingredient list was a paragraph long, full of additives and preservatives. In a pinch, I might have still bought them, regardless, but I could tell they weren't even going to be that good. So I figured I would just make the time to make them.

{One year, in a rush, I bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts and some ready-made frosting, and decorated them with crosses. The kids loved them.}

Thankfully, this year, it's homemade hot cross buns for us. So delicious.

These have freshly ground cardamon in them. I smashed the pods open using the flat side of a knife, and then whirled the seeds through my coffee mill. I guess you're supposed to have a mill for coffee and a mill for spices, but I don't. The cardamon smells delicious.


Love to see a bowl of risen dough. It's like magic. If you look closely, you can see specks of cardamon, cinnamon, and allspice. Normally, you would also see raisins or currants in hot cross buns, but I'm not a fan so I omit them. 

The tulips will be perfect by Sunday, bending out and open.


Right out of the oven. Mmmm . . . 


And delicious decorated with homemade icing on top and a spot of tea.


We always sing this at our Good Friday service. It is such a sobering hymn, and one that always brings tears to my eyes . . . 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to a tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to a tree?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they nailed Him to a tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Thankfully, there's Good News on Sunday! Have a Happy Easter.

8 comments

  1. Oh they look delicious!
    it's funny how a bowl of bread dough rising on the counter makes me feel so blissfully domestic...all is in order.
    I keep coming back to it but it is truly the "little things" that make such a big difference.
    Happy Easter.

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  2. Hi Deborah, I never heard of making hot cross buns for Good Friday, but what a nice tradition! I bet they came out so delicious! Next time you will have to share your recipe with us! Thanks too for joining my blog and for entering my little giveaway, you are so sweet and thoughtful! Have a wonderful day and Easter.
    Julie xoxo
    Julie

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  3. They look delicious! Happy Easter, dear friend. He is risen! <3 Lori

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  4. Deborah: I know - if one really listens to the words of that old hymn, it is so heartbreaking. Perfectly fitting for Good Friday. I love your hot cross buns tradition. I have never done that, but may start. Your dough looks wonderful. And the finished buns make my mouth water to look at them. Thanks for sharing that bit of history behind the tradition - I learned something!

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  5. Yummy in my tummy! Can I come over for one? :)

    Have a most blessed Easter, sweet lady! Hugs to you!

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  6. Quite familiar with that beautiful old hymn ...have a blessed Easter! I know about the hot cross buns tradition but have never made them myself / I am glad that you posted a recipe ! :) I am going to pin it / save it! :)

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  7. Good news, indeed!! Happy Easter, Deborah- Mmm... we love fresh homemade Hot Cross Buns. What a great tradition you have. I love the smell of the dough as it rises. Perfect for teatime. Sharing an acappella song to celebrate today: http://youtu.be/VYITh2V-yjs

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  8. These look so delicious! I wish I had more time to bake from scratch. Wonderful job!

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