Hot Cross Buns

Cross buns first became associated with Easter in the seventeenth century, which was boom time for rich yeast-risen doughs like this one. Popular for breakfast, they were sold hot in the streets by enterprising bakers and eventually became known as hot cross buns. They remain indelibly associated with the festival in the United Kingdom, though modern versions often have a pastry cross on top. Buns like these can be seen cooling on the Downton kitchen table in several episodes, and th