ORANGE HOT CROSS BUNS

By Kitchenbee

Sunset – April 2010 – Brunch With Friends article

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup warm (100-110) whole milk
• 4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 large egg plus tblsp beaten egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Finely shredded zest of 1 large orange
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup chopped candied orange peel (specialty or online shopping)
• 1/4 cup dried currants
• 2 tsp fresh orange juice
• 2 tsp fresh Meyer lemon juice
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Preparation

Step 1

In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine milk and yeast; let stand until yeast softens, 5-10 minutes. Add whole egg, sugar, butter, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and orange zest. Beat on medium speed with dough hook until blended.

Blend in 2 ¾ cups flour. Beat on medium speed until dough is smooth and stretchy, 10-12 minutes. Add just enough flour (about ¼ cup) so dough is only slightly tacky. Add orange peel and currants, pick up dough, and mix with your hands to distribute fruit. Return dough to bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 ¼ hours.

Punch down dough. With floured hands, shape into 16 smooth rounds. Evenly space rounds in 2 buttered 8 or 9 inch square pans.

Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place until doubled and puffy, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400. Brush buns with beaten egg. Bake until deep golden, 13-15 minutes. Let cool in pans at least 30 minutes.

In a small bowl, stir together juices and powdered sugar until smooth. Spoon into a small, heavy-gauge plastic bag, snip a hole in a corner, and squeeze icing onto buns to form large Xs.