Everyone has a recipe they love. Belizeans love their hot cross buns as much as the next person, and the favorite way to eat them is slathered with happy cow cheese, dripping in butter or simply dunked in a nice mug of coffee to start the Easter weekend right. Here is a recipe to test out your baking skills!!

Hot-Cross-Buns-2Hot Cross Bun Recipe

Ingredients:

Dry

* 3lbs flour
* 2 packs of yeast
* Spice seeds
* Raisins
* ½ lb shortening
* 1 cup brown sugar

Wet

* Lukewarm coconut milk
* Vanilla (about 1 tablespoon)
* Essence of your choice

Preparation Method:

Add flour, yeast, spice seeds, raisins into a mixing bowl
Add in the ½ lb of shortening, followed by 1 cup of brown sugar.
Mix everything together until incorporated.
Pour in the lukewarm coconut milk – just until the dough starts coming together smoothly. You don’t want too much milk to make the dough wet and sticky, or too little milk that will make the dough stiff and dry.
While kneading the dough, add in vanilla and whatever essence you have chosen and knead well.
Continue kneading until dough is smooth and pliable.
Roll dough off into medium sized balls and set them on a baking sheet.
From the excess dough, cut 2 thin strips and make a cross across each bun.
Let the dough balls rise – about 20 minutes.
When the dough has risen, place baking sheet into oven at 375oF and let bake for 20-25 minutes.

Hot cross buns are traditionally enjoyed with fried fish, but can also be eaten as a snack with jam, jellies, cheese or plain with some hot coffee.

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About the Author: Mary Gonzalez

Mary Gonzalez writes under the pseudonym 'Tia Chocolate'. Tia Chocolate enjoys writing short stories that focus on her life growing up in the small Maya village of San Antonio, Cayo District, Belize.
Tia loves (and we mean LOVE) eating and writing about her food experiences, often times trying out new recipes to try and recreate the foods of her memories. She also loves to travel, indulging in the culture wherever she is privy to visit.
She is slave to a giant cat named Kitty Boo Boo, and her cooking exploits are enjoyed by her significant other, Pookie.

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