Getting Cross-eyed

It's been more than a month since I had put up my hot cross buns post (yeah, yeah, so i'd got my dates mixed up) and since then i've been busy with more ideas and variations just to make things a little more interesting. Hot cross macs galore for awhile and now, 3 different ways to make those crosses on those buns.

The initial crosses, made with orange icing, were and are still my favorite but they're not transport-friendly. So, here are the 3 other ways to make sturdier crosses (see pic): blue poppy seeds (top), piped batter (left) and pastry strips (right). I'm sure you can think up some more interesting versions.

Among these 3, I thought the poppy seeds made a better and more interesting eat. The pastry cross was hard and I suggest that you make a softer dough or just peel off the cross before sinking your teeth into it. The piped cross was also a little too chewy for my liking or maybe I should have made the mixture a little more runny.

Well, there it is. Ping messing around with tradition again.

Have a happy, variation-filled easter!

For the Poppy Seeds Crosses:

Sprinkle seeds into a cross shape after brushing dough with egg wash.

For the Piped Crosses:

1/2 tbs sugar

3 tbs flour

2 tbs water / milk

Mix together to form a smooth and pipeable batter. Pipe a thin line.

*Note: Lines spread a little during baking. See how fat mine are? :P

For the Pastry Crosses: (don't like this ... the dough strips turned out to hard to eat)

1/2 cup flour

3 tbs water

Mix into a smooth dough. Roll out and cut into strips. Attach onto buns with egg wash.

Bake as directed. (See Hot Cross Buns)