Easy, Yummy Maple Lemon Thyme Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are a delicious, sweet treat that date back to the 12th century when an English monk decorated his freshly baked buns with a cross and distributed them to poor people who had gathered at the gates of St. Albans Abby on Good Friday. The fruits and precious spices were included in the recipe to represent health and prosperity as the season of Lent ended and people prepared to celebrate Easter. This version is a recipe for Maple Lemon Thyme Hot Cross Buns. It comes from our good friends at Maple From Canada. Find more easy recipes to celebrate any special occasion on their website, https://www.maplefromcanada.com/, or follow them @MaplefromCanadaUSA on Facebook and on Instagram. For all of our friends who celebrate Good Friday and Easter, our very best wishes.
Ingredients For 12 Portions
BUNS
- 4 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 Tbsp ground thyme – ground in a FinaPod Max
- 2 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt – ground in a FinaPod PRO Plus
- 1 stick (half cup) butter
- 1/2 cup (or more) dried fruits such as raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, or cut up dried apricots
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 3/4 cup pure Canadian maple syrup
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/3 cup milk
CROSS
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups water
GLAZE
- 2 Tbsp apricot jam
- 2 Tbsp pure Canadian maple syrup
Directions
1. Warm the milk, butter, and maple syrup together until melted and combined. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Place flour, cinnamon, yeast, thyme, and salt into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Then stir in the dried fruit and lemon zest.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Mix to a soft, slightly sticky dough, adding a little more water, if required.
4. Transfer the dough mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until the dough becomes less sticky.
5. Shape into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to lightly coat the dough in the oil. Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for about 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
6. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan with baking parchment. Gently punch down. Divide the dough into 12 even-sized pieces and shape into balls. Arrange the buns in the baking pan, leaving space between each one. Cover with a damp towel and leave to rise for 45 minutes.
7. To make the crosses, mix the flour with 1 tbsp of water at a time in a small bowl to create a thick, pipeable paste. Spoon the paste into a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle and pipe crosses on the buns.
8. While you preheat the oven to 375°F, place the pan of buns in the fridge.
9. Place the buns on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until deep golden brown.
10. For the glaze, gently heat the jam and maple syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat then use it to glaze the buns.
11. Leave to cool before serving.
About Maple from Canada
Maple from Canada is the official US brand for Québec Maple Syrup Producers. Unrefined and unprocessed, pure Canadian maple syrup is ideal for brunches, baking and barbecues, imparting the flavor of Canada’s iconic ingredient into a multitude of dishes, free from artificial additives or flavorings.