I’m thinking about buying Maeve a pony. After all, she’s 4 months old now. I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate this milestone and, of course, Easter. Can someone with pony knowledge point me in the direction of a person who can customize a tiny saddle? Pink leather, possibly?
Are you gasping for breath already?
I’m not serious, of course. I just wanted to get your attention and to give you a bit of a laugh. Did it work? I hope it did because I can’t deliver the good news for which we all hoped. We didn’t win the video contest.
Maeve was briefly upset, but, like most of her moods, the sentiment was fleeting.
She is much better now and so am I. I consider the whole thing a success, really. I heard from many readers who were previously watching from the sidelines. I heard from longtime readers who rallied around us with heartwarming loyalty. And, to my delight, many of you discovered this humble blog for the first time as a result of the contest.
I want to thank you all. You mean a great deal to me. It’s because of you we keep on plugging away at this. It’s because of you that I rise to the challenge of cooking when I’m covered in drool and can barely function.
I made you a sweet holiday breakfast as a way of saying thanks.
It was sort of a big deal for me. I don’t cook a lot in the mornings these days, but I long to do so. I miss breakfast. I really do. A good breakfast is glorious, inspiring, and possibly life-changing. I know that sounds dramatic, but I’m willing to bet most historically wondrous feats of skill and intellect were not performed on a granola bar washed down with a weak cup of coffee. A hearty breakfast does, in fact, make the weak great. That being said, I am quite sorry to report my morning meals of late do not deserve this lofty title. They are fillers, food eaten rapidly with blurry eyes and tired jaws. It might be a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast smeared with peanut butter I scraped out of a nearly empty jar. There is nothing memorable about these meals. They are desperate moments borne of long nights of breastfeeding.
Most people think I am managing well. I don’t, after all, seem so tired during the day. We get out of the house daily. We go to the park, the pool, and walk endlessly. And, on the good days, I write in those quiet moments stolen during nap time. The mornings, however, are difficult. I can’t lie. My little girl is an early riser. And while I used to consider myself as such, I find this is no longer true. I am groggy. I am gray. It is not a state conducive to culinary endeavors of any complexity.
I am telling all of you about this because I want to change. I want to be a morning person again. So, I thank you again for giving me the motivation to celebrate the early hours of the day with hot cross buns.
Here are your sweet buns. You deserve them. Whether or not it’s Easter morning, hot cross buns are a lovely treat on any day of the week. You can certainly forgo the glaze cross on top. To make life even easier than that, you can also prepare the dough the night before. Just leave it in the refrigerator until you are ready for the first rise. These buns aren’t heavy or dry like scones. They’re light, spongey, and absolutely irresistible when piping hot and smeared with a decent chunk of butter.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Eat your sweet breakfast, dear people. Greatness awaits you.
Hot Cross Buns
Dough:
1 cup warm whole milk (105°–115°F.)
two 1/4-ounce packages (5 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 sticks (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter
1 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
2/3 cup raisins
Topping:
1/2 cup smooth apricot jam
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon nonfat milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
In a small bowl stir together milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Let mixture stand 5 minutes, or until foamy.
Into a large bowl sift together flour, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Cut butter into bits and with your fingertips or a pastry blender blend into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse meal. Lightly beat 1 whole egg with egg yolk. Make a well in center of flour mixture and pour in yeast and egg mixtures, and raisins. Stir mixture until a dough is formed. Transfer dough to a floured surface and with floured hands knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Transfer dough to an oiled large bowl and turn to coat. Let dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
Butter 2 large baking sheets.
On a floured surface with floured hands knead dough briefly and form into two 12-inch-long logs. Cut each log crosswise into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Let buns rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
While buns are rising, place apricot jam in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until heated through.
Bake buns in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer buns to a rack to cool slightly. Brush wam jam over the tops of the buns.
Whisk together the confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, and nonfat milk in a small bowl. Spoon over the buns in the shape of a cross.
Serve buns warm or at room temperature.
Adapted from Gourmet.
Sounds like you guys are doing well. Sorry about the contest. It’s wonderful that you have each other, lots of love and these delicious hot cross buns. Enjoy the holiday!
We were all bummed about the contest! I’m glad to hear that you’re all hanging in there and Maeve isn’t too upset.
I’ve never made hot cross buns before – thanks for the recipe. I’ll be trying it out this weekend! xo
I was wondering about the whole contest thing. So sorry. Maeve is just too cute for words about the whole matter. And these hot cross buns sound too good for words. I can just imagine the smell in your house when these are baking. Pure heaven!
Sorry to hear you didn’t win the contest, Robin, but just seeing M’s lovely face even in momentary unhappiness still a joy and a worthy reason for stopping by. Your buns are a close second. They look perfect and inviting and it doesn’t at all seem like you’ve been out of the breakfast loop even a bit. You’d probably shake your head in horror if I were to tell you my recent sleeping and rising habits. But then I was always a night owl, even since my gradeschool days. So glad to see you posting regularly again.
Those are some wonderful buns!
I am so sorry you didn’t win
I really loved your video and thought it was adorable. Hopefully next time!
Darn, I was sure you’d win. Ah, well, Maeve will get her chance to visit Europe one day. Commiserations!
Sorry to hear that you didn’t win the contest! I hope these yummy looking buns helped lift your spirits.
Absolutely love the way you write. I too am a huge fan of breakfast. Perhaps these buns will make me more of an early riser.
It doesn´t matter if you didn´t win. Your video was lovely and we liked it very much and we voted it many times. I have it in my facebook page, and many people has seen it, so who cares about the contest now?.
Lovely buns, thank you.
Love from Spain!
Marialuisa
That is too kind. Thank you for your support. I love that I have readers in Spain. Lovely!
xo
Robin
A lovely speciality!
Happy Easter!
Cheers,
Rosa
I am sorry to hear you guys didn’t win. I voted several times (which is saying something because I don’t even have a facebook profile). It was a super cute video though and I honestly thought it deserved to win.
Maeve’s outfit is so sweet!
Thank you, Georgia. I really appreciate your support.
And, I love Maeve’s outfit too. I found it at a thrift store (Goodwill), of course. We love thrifting!
Have a lovely weekend.
xo
Robin
Oh these do look like the perfect way to start the day!
Oh I’m sorry to hear that. You’re still the winner in our eyes though, Robin!
Thanks, Hilary. I have the best prize at home regardless of the contest
How are you?!
xo
Robin
Robin – I love your blog. Kirk photographed our wedding this past fall and I stumbled upon your blog looking at his and all of his beautiful pictures! Your cooking inspires me, but I have a long way to go to even scratch the surface of what you do! And Maeve is darling, absolutely DARLING! Thanks for your fun words!
Christy,
It’s lovely to hear from you. Thank you so much for your sweet words. I hope you are enjoying married life!
xo
Robin
Sorry you didn’t win the contest. I know Jodi, the Austin lady who did win, and while I’m happy for her, I really wish you both could have won. So much so that I divided my daily votes between the two of you. One day you, the next Jodi.
Here’s hoping you get a relaxing vacay soon. In the meantime, enjoy those delicious looking buns you made!
Shelley, Thank you so much for voting and supporting us. That was very sweet! xo
What does it mean when I can relate to your morning story and I have no children? I’m in deep trouble when we start trying for one!
These look so good. If I hadn’t already planned out our Easter menu with mom I would make these!
Enjoy your weekend!
Perfect for Easter! Happy first Easter to Maeve!
Yes, you didn’t win but isn’t it heartwarming to know that lots of people support you?
And I love seeing the video. My kid loved it too. He kept asking for “the baby with the beret”
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Oh, so sorry!
But, that face!!
And that quilt!!! Homemade? Storebought? Those elephants, that white ground, I am so smitten…
Sad as I am to admit this, I chuckled at: “Here are your sweet buns.” (It’s been a long day of packing, moving, packing, moving, blah.) Now that that’s off my chest, I pray your warm Easter-y rolls have revitalized you, and righted you from grey to a more hale and blushed tone. I would also like to steer you in the direction of My Little Ponies… or a Chincoteague.
Cheers,
*Heather*
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t win the contest; but alas there is always hot cross buns and cute babies!
So tempted to send you a My Little Pony in the mail, but after the time it took for you to receive the last package, Maeve would be old enough for a real one by the time it would arrive! Sorry to hear about the contest but the hot cross buns do look delicious!!
Yours look like the ones I saw at Panera, very lovely.
I consider myself a morning person too but after I read your blog, I became aware of one more consequence of having a baby. I turned 35 last week and there is a lot of this baby talk in the house now due to the new age all of a sudden(“do we want one or not want one? What are we willing to give up or if we dont, would we be very selfish people?”)
It is nice to read ups and downs, and the other side of the motherhood… I think Maeve deserves a pony
Sorry about the contest
These buns are glorious though!
Freshly baked bread is one of the most beautiful things to see and smell and your Eastern buns are no exception. Something fresh-baked in the morning always improves the day!
maeve is just so dang cute!
i’ve never had a hot cross bun, can you believe that? i think i’ll have to try these out, even though easter is over!
Maeve’s pants were sooo adorable, how could you not win?!?!?!?!
We are remodeling our home this summer. I am officially without. an. oven. until. August. I don’t know how I’m going to get through it; especially with hot cross buns on my mind.
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
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[...] Hot cross buns glazed with apricot jam (pictured above) are always a favorite. Or, possibly an apple oven pancake? [...]