I would like to welcome you to our series sharing Food Holidays: September 10th, 2021. Have you ever had a Hot Cross Bun because I don’t think Charlie or I have had one. When I asked David he said he didn’t think he had a Hot Cross Bun as well. But I do remember hearing of these as a child from a Poem or Story my grandmother Dorie would tell me.
National Hot Cross Bun Day
National Hot Cross Bun Day is celebrated each year on September 11 although there’s a day dedicated to this tasty treat, Hot Cross Buns are delicious any day of the year. A Hot Cross Bun is made from Yeast Dough and is usually a bit sweet. Did you know some Hot Cross Buns may even contain Spices such as Cinnamon along with Raisins, Currants, or other Dried Fruits. Most of us prefer having a Hot Cross Bun for breakfast accompanied with a cup of coffee or a glass of Milk and with a sliver of Butter on top. Hot Cross Buns make a scrumptious and filling breakfast food.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL HOT CROSS BUN DAY
Many stories claim the origins of the Hot Cross Bun which one believes that the 13th-Century Anglican Monk baked Hot Cross Buns to share and marked them with a Cross in Honor of Good Friday. The Hot Cross Buns back then might have had a bland taste but they were meant to be shared as a show of friendship and love.
By the 16th Century, Hot Cross Buns had been introduced to Elizabethan England. The Queen decided to keep Hot Cross Buns sacred and a law was passed to limit the sale of Hot Cross Buns to Christmas, Funerals, and the Friday before Easter. The law was too difficult to enforce and was eventually scrapped and people rejoiced and started baking Hot Cross Buns throughout the year.
Some superstitious people believed that Hot Cross Buns had Medicinal or Healing Powers. While others believed that Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday would never go stale. Others were of the opinion that Hot Cross Buns could ward off evil spirits.
A few others claimed that Hot Cross Buns protected sailors from shipwrecks while on Sea Voyages! Although Hot Cross Buns might have existed before Christianity, Hot Cross Buns have been Historically only eaten on Good Friday as a Christian symbol of the Crucifixion. However, in many places, Hot Cross Buns are now widely sold and eaten practically every day of the year. The Superstitions also seem to be fading since Hot Cross Buns are no longer used for any other purpose other than having filling a empty stomach.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HOT CROSS BUN DAY
- Eat a Hot Cross Bun and you must treat yourself to a Hot Cross Bun on National Hot Cross Bun Day. Go pick up fresHot Cross Buns for breakfast and enjoy them with a cup of Coffee.
- Or you could bake Hot Cross Buns on National Hot Cross Bun Day. Follow an online recipe to make your very own Hot Cross Buns.
- Try something new and add new flavors or spices when you prepare your own batch of Hot Cross Buns by adding different Nuts, Chocolate Chips, or Lemon Zest to the original recipe.
WHY People LOVE NATIONAL HOT CROSS BUN DAY
- Hot Cross Bus has a long history and the Origin, of Hot Cross Buns have had a long, interesting History making today a good day to look back at how Hot Cross Buns have made their way to us.
- Hot Cross Buns are a much-loved treat everyone loves. A favorite breakfast treat, National Hot Cross Bun Day is the perfect way to celebrate this Holiday.
- A day to bake National Hot Cross Bun Day invites us to bake and experiment with hot cross bun different variations.
Hot Cross Buns Recipe
- ¾ cup warm Water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 1 tablespoon Instant Powdered Milk
- ¼ cup White Sugar
- ⅜ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Egg
- 1 Egg White
- 3 cups all-purpose Flour
- 1 tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
- ¾ cup dried Currants
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 tablespoons Water
- ½ cup Confectioners’ Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons Milk
- Step 1 Put warm Water, Butter, Skim Milk Powder, 1/4 cup Sugar, Salt, egg, Egg White, Flour, and Yeast in a Bread Maker and start on dough program.
- Step 2 When 5 minutes of kneading are left, add Currants and Cinnamon. Leave in machine till double.
- Step 3 Punch down on Floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes.
- Step 4 Shape into 12 balls and place in a greased 9 x 12 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double, about 35-40 minutes.
- Step 5 Mix Egg Yolk and 2 tablespoons Water. Brush on balls.
- Step 6 Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and cool on Wire Rack.
- Step 7 To make Crosses: mix together confectioners’ Sugar, Vanilla, and Milk. Place glaze in a piping bag or a sandwich bag with the corner snipped off; pipe a Cross onto each Roll.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
