hot crossed buns, hot crossed buns...

... one a penny, two a penny, hot crossed buns!

every easter my grandmother makes her most delicious hot crossed buns. i haven't been home for easter in years. one year though, she managed to send me some. i love them. this year i decided to make my own. i was surprised at how well they turned out.

the famous recipe:


1/2 cup water
4 tsp. sugar
4 tbsp yeast ( 4 Pkges)

Put the above together & let set for 10 minutes. While you do the following:


Mix together:
1 cup soft butter (or marg)

1 cup sugar, add
1 cup warm milk ,

1 and 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (made ahead of time)

2 tsp salt,
4 eggs,
2 cups currants,
2 tsp cinnamon,
2/3 to 1 tsp nutmeg,
6 cups flour.

By this time the yeast has probably risen enough to stir down and add to the above as well as about 3 cups flour . Mix until smooth Then add rest of flour about 3 cups and knead well.

Let rise about 1 to 2 hours (double its size)

Then plop out on counter top & press or punch down and put into buns (I cut mine with a glass). Let rise a bit. Bake at 350F about 15 plus minutes.

FROSTING:
2 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)

1/4 cup of more butter
1 tsp vanilla

boiling water added a tsp at a time to make a thin spreadable consistency to make the cross with.