Hot Cross Buns with Dates
Hot Cross Buns with Dates
Ingredients
- Dough
- • 2 1/4 tsp yeast
- • 1 tsp sugar
- • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
- • 3/4 cup room temperature unsweetened soy/almond milk
- • 1/3 cup oil
- • 3/4 tsp salt
- • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- • 1/4 cup sugar
- • 1 tbsp orange zest
- • 1 tbsp lemon zest
- • 3 1/2 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
- • 1/2 cup dates
- Vegan "Egg" Wash
- • 2 tbsp unsweetened non-dairy milk
- • 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Icing
- • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- • 2 1/2 tsp unsweetened soy/almond milk
Instructions
- • In your stand mixer bowl, add the yeast, 1 tsp of sugar, and lukewarm water. Let stand for a few minutes.
- • When the yeast has foamed up, add the room temperature soy/almond milk, oil, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, sugar, orange zest, lemon zest, and 1 cup of flour. Mix with a spoon to combine.
- • Put stand mixer bowl in place, add 2 more cups of flour and using the dough hook, set the mixer to knead or do by hand.
- • When the dough is sticky, add flour 1/2 cup at a time.
- • Let the mixer knead the dough for about 4 minutes until it is no longer sticky. In the last minute of mixing, add the dates.
- • Lightly oil the inside of a medium-sized bowl.
- • Remove dough from mixer bowl and place into the oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit in a warm spot until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- • Line an 11" x 13" pan with baking paper. Allow an overhang on each side so they can be easily removed from the pan when done.
- • After the hour has passed, punch the dough down and knead for a few seconds to get rid of any air pockets.
- • Separate the dough into 12 equal sized pieces.
- • Roll each piece into a ball and place each one into the parchment lined pan. (It's OK if they are close together).
- • Cover with a towel and place in a warm spot. Let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 190°C.
- Make the vegan "egg" wash...
- • Mix the unsweetened soy/almond milk and the maple syrup together.
- • After the rolls have rested, using a pastry brush, brush the vegan egg wash over each bun.
- • Bake for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- • Remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes in pan.
- • Remove buns using baking paper overhang as handles and place onto a cooling rack. The buns will have joined together while rising/baking. Do not separate them yet.
- While cooling, make the icing...
- • Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and unsweetened soy/almond milk to a small bowl. Mix well until it has all combined to form a thick icing. Place into a piping bag with a very small tip or a small ziplock bag. If using a ziplock bag, snip off one of the bottom corners.
- • Once the buns have cooled, pipe the icing onto the buns to make the crosses.
Notes
Variation of raisins, sultanas and orange peel optional