It’s that time of year.
It’s time to put a marshmallow Peep in your hat.
It’s time to pipe a cross on your biscuit.
It’s time to eat way way way too many white chocolate Easter bunnies.
Or maybe you gave up sugar for Lent… in which case… I’m sorry to torture you with dessert everyday. I’m sorry.
Hot Cross Buns are traditional this time of year.
These are not Hot Cross Buns.
These are the totally lazy version of Hot Cross Buns.
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally and English Spring/Easter time treat.
They’re yeasted and spiced and adorned with a frosting cross. They’re usually served on Good Friday. They’re always always delicious.
I don’t do well with rules.
I turned buns into biscuits, added currants and lemon zest, and added a cream cheese frosting cross.
Jesus would totally be down. I’m almost certain.
… and I love when things turn into a pretty pretty mess.
… Like my kitten, he’s a pretty mess too (picture not included).
I like this.
These biscuits are subtly sweet, filled with sweet and tender dried currants, and have a hint of citrus flavor. If you’re tempted to have a heavy hand with the cream cheese frosting… we must be related. I like you.
Hot Cross Biscuits
Makes 8 to 12 biscuits (depending on how thick you like them. I made 8.)
For the Biscuits:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk, cold
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/2 cup dried currants
For the Frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
dash of vanilla extract
Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add lemon zest. Add cold butter and, using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture. Work quickly to incorporate the butter into the flour. The butter bits will be the size of small pebbles and oat flakes.
Whisk together egg and buttermilk.
Toss the dried currants into the dry ingredient mixture, and create a small well in the center of the flour and butter mixture. Pour in the buttermilk, all at once, and use a fork to incorporate the ingredients. Make sure that all of the flour bits are moistened by the egg and buttermilk.
Dump the shaggy dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Bring together, kneading lightly, until the dough forms a 1-inch thick disk. Use a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut biscuit circles. Place on the baking sheet. Gently knead the remaining dough scraps together. Form into a 1-inch thick disk and cut out more round biscuits until no dough remains.
Brush biscuit tops with buttermilk and baker for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned on top and firm-ish in the center.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely before frosting with a cross.
In a medium bowl, using a firm spatula, blend together 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, and 1 cup of powdered sugar. Add just a dash of vanilla extract and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you’d like. Mixture will be thick.
Cut a small tip off of a zip lock bag (you can also use a small round cake decorating tip). Fold down the sides of the bag and scoop the frosting into the bag. Pipe crosses onto completely cooked biscuits and serve.
Biscuits are best served the day they are made, but will last, well wrapped at room temperature, for one day.
Jennifer
We make hot cross buns every year at the bakery I work at. A cook I used to work with would always get confused and call them by the wrong name–holy cross biscuits. I think it has a nice ring to it :)
Your biscuits looks amazingly flaky and delicious!
Frances
Hmm. My delicate English sensibilities are shocked by your flagrant hot cross makeover. And yet my stomach is intrigued…
Hilray
I gave up baking for Lent… It’s been hard.
Katy from DiningwithDusty
I might be one of the few people out there who generally finds biscuits to be a bit dry…which is why I’m super crazy about the idea of putting cream cheese frosting (and loads of it) on them. Genius!
Bergie Powers
That dough looks super yummy. Did you sneak any into your mouth while you were baking?
tom(watkins products associate)
that kind of torture is acceptable,lol
Rebecca in STL
I made regular hot cross buns last year, but I think it’s time for an Easter morning shake down with these guys!
homegrown countrygirl
I am not very hip… if “Jesus would totally be down,” does that mean that he would like them? Because if it does mean that He would like them, then I am totally down with these, too! They look so good!!!
rebecca
? i thought it meant that he would be disappointed she didn’t do all the traditional stuff…
urgh i don’t know! but anyways, WE all know they taste g8… :)
kellypea
I’ve always wanted to make hot cross buns, but wasn’t sure if I’d like them when I finally did. I like you not following the rules version, probably just because of that. Nice flavors. Do you also redesign your lovely headers yourself? They’re gorgeous.
Candice @ NotesFromABroad
What do you get when you pour hot water down a rabbit hole?
Hot Cross Bunnies.
:) I am making these this weekend. The weather is finally cooling off and I can stand to have the oven on.
Easter in Autumn, imagine that ! Happy weekend ! C
peachkins
amazing buns!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
I’m one of those people that gave up sugar for Lent. Whenever I visit your blog, I want to throw in the towel and eat a brownie or a cookie or a hot cross biscuit!!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
Hot cross buns are the best. These sound super delicious. And cream cheese frosting? In my opinion its the only frosting worth eating
brittany
Umm, I was running around the yard naked one summer when I was a tot. I squatted down to look at a flower and didn’t notice the really piping hot mini-hibachi grill behind me, just tall enough for me to fall back onto it. I ran in screaming and my mom tended my burns, simultaneously feeling horrible for me and laughing because I had “hot cross buns”. This is my first memory. Luckily, it didn’t scar. Thought you might find it humorous.