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5* Orange Hot Cross Buns

Source of Recipe

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5* Orange Hot Cross Buns

Country Woman March/April 2006
Reviews rate this recipe 5 Stars!
Prep: 35 min. + rising Bake: 15 min./batch + cooling
Yield: 22 buns.

For a traditional Easter recipe with a twist, try these yummy, sweet yeast buns. Grated orange peel gives them a mild citrus flavor. You’ll end up making them year round.

Ingredients:
• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1-1/4 cups warm orange juice (110° to 115°), divided
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 to 4 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins
• 6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•
• GLAZE:
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 to 3 teaspoons water

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm orange juice. Add the butter, sugar, eggs, orange peel, salt, cinnamon, raisins, remaining orange juice and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

2. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

3. Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 22 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross on the top of each ball. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.

4. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

5. In a small heavy-duty resealable plastic bag, combine glaze ingredients until smooth. Cut a small hole in a corner of bag; pipe a cross on each bun.

1 serving (1 each) equals 237 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 106 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.