Almond-kissed Hot-cross Buns

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup golden raisin
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 6 -6 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 cups water (105â° to 115â°f)
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup chopped candied fruit
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Recipe

• 1 pour boiling water over raisins to cover.
• 2 let stand for 10 minutes; drain well.
• 3 meanwhile, in large mixing bowl, beat sugar, shortening, salt and cinnamon with electric mixer.
• 4 beat in the 2 eggs and egg yolk.
• 5 add 2 1/4 cups of the bread flour, the 1 1/4 cups warm water and the yeast.
• 6 beat with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl.
• 7 beat on high speed for 3 minutes.
• 8 using a wooden spoon, stir in the candied fruit, drained raisins and as much of the remaining bread flour as you can.
• 9 turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes).
• 10 shape into a ball.
• 11 place in a greased bowl, turning to grease all surfaces.
• 12 cover and let rise until doubled (about 1 1/2 hours).
• 13 grease two 13x9-inch baking pans.
• 14 punch dough down and divide into 4 portions.
• 15 divide each portion into 10 pieces.
• 16 shape each piece into a smooth ball.
• 17 arrange balls in pans, leaving a finger width between each.
• 18 cover and let rise again until almost doubled (about 1 hour).
• 19 meanwhile, for the cross batter, in a small bowl stir together butter and powdered sugar.
• 20 add the egg, the 1/4 cup water, vanilla and almond extract.
• 21 add 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour.
• 22 beat until smooth.
• 23 stir in the remaining all-purpose flour.
• 24 if necessary add a bit more water so you have the right consistency batter for piping.
• 25 spoon batter into pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip.
• 26 pipe a cross on each dough ball.
• 27 bake in 375°f oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.