Sourdough Hot Cross Buns

It's been over a month since these two tied the knot and I'm still all in my feelings about it. 👰‍♂️🤵🏼‍♂️💍💒  

I think I started praying for my children's spouses while they were still in diapers.  Never too soon in my book.😅  I prayed that they would find the person who values, compliments, respects and supports them in every way.  That they would build a life with someone that is a beautiful reflection of the love they share and the faith that guides them. 

I feel profoundly blessed that both of my children have found their person - the one who fills them with love and joy.  Their wedding days felt like quietly closing one chapter in the story of their life while they continued on to another - even greater, chapter.  It’s the start of their new story that will continue to unfold in ways we can’t yet imagine.

Like I said ... I'm still going through all the feelings.😁🥲🥰🤗

If you ask me, a “perfect wedding” isn’t really about flawless execution—it’s about creating a day that feels deeply personal, intentional and the combining of two souls.  For these two, the whole weekend was magical from beginning to end and the best part was having a front row seat to their beautiful love story.  

I can't think of too many things that would have made this Good Friday wedding any more perfect and being able to extend the celebrations to last all weekend was part of the fun.  Even after the bride and groom left on their honeymoon, we were able to continue the party with family and friends all around the beautiful town of Savannah.  We took fishing trips, river boat cruises, walks through the park, had dinner on River street and even celebrated Easter at a local church in downtown Savannah.⛪️✞  

It's rare that I find myself eating holiday meals at a restaurant - not because I'm opposed - my family usually just gathers together to cook holiday meals at home.  I actually like to make big fancy meals and I have a habit of inviting more guests than actually fit into my house on holidays.😂 

With all that was going on with the wedding this year though, I very much appreciated going out for Easter brunch.  Did I come home and make a few of my Easter favorites to enjoy a couple weeks after Easter anyway?  Yes.  Yes, I did.😂  One of those special recipes that I love to make is Hot Cross Buns.  This new and improved hot cross bun recipe features my favorite sourdough starter.  I would love for you to give it a try.

Sourdough Hot Cross Buns
120 grams active starter
240 grams whole milk, warmed
90 grams brown sugar
1 large egg
zest of one large orange
535 grams bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 Tablespoons butter, soft but firm
3/4 cup raisins

Egg Wash
1 large egg
water

Piping Mixture for the Cross
40 grams flour
50 grams water

Orange Glaze
90 grams powdered sugar
20 grams freshly squeezed orange juice

Add starter, milk, brown sugar, egg, zest, flour, salt and cinnamon to bowl of stand mixer. 

Knead 5 minutes. 

Cut butter into 10 pieces.  Add to mixer and knead 5-10 minutes longer. 

Add raisins and knead until incorporated.

Transfer dough to a clean bowl.  Cover and let rest 4 hours. 

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.  Shape each into a ball.

Place buns into a parchment lined 9x13" pan.  

Cover and let rise 8-10 hours. 

Brush buns with egg wash. 

Mix together flour and water for piping.  Pipe over buns. 

Bake 30 minutes at 350.

Stir together glaze ingredients and brush over buns. 

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe