Pull Apart Hot Cross Buns Recipes

PULL-APART HOT CROSS BUNS

Steps:

• Microwave 1/3 cup milk in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 15 sec. Add yeast, sugar and cardamom; stir. Let stand 10 min. or until bubbles start to form on surface. Meanwhile, chop 2 oz. chocolate.
• Beat 4 oz. cream cheese, 2 eggs and flour in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add yeast mixture; beat 3 to 4 min. or until dough starts to pull away from side of bowl to form ball. Add apricots and chopped chocolate; mix well. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in volume.
• Punch down dough; roll dough into 10 balls. Place in single layer in 9-inch pie plate sprayed with cooking spray; cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove dough from refrigerator; let rise in warm place 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until doubled in volume.
• Heat oven to 350ºF. Whisk remaining egg and milk until blended; brush lightly onto dough. Discard any remaining egg wash.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown. Cool slightly.
• Melt remaining chocolate as directed on package; mix with remaining cream cheese until blended. Spoon into resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag; use to drizzle chocolate mixture over buns as shown in photo.

PULL-APART HOT CROSS BUNS

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let stand until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Place the flour, salt, sugar, cardamom, 1 1/4 cups of milk, butter and egg into the bread machine. Pour the yeast mixture on top. Close the lid and set the machine for the Dough setting. If using raisins, dried cherries or dried cranberries, add them at the beep.
• When the dough has finished, divide into 12 portions and shape into balls. Place them into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the plastic wrap from the rolls. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Make frosting by whisking together the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup of milk and almond extract until smooth. When the buns are cool, drizzle frosting over them in a cross shape.