How To Share The Story Of Easter Through A Hot Cross Bun.
Updated: Apr 3
One-a-penny, two-a-penny, Hot Cross Buns…
On Good Friday all around the world, people love celebrating Easter by enjoying Hot Cross Buns. These delicious fruit-filled buns have had a long historical connection to Easter and to English culture.
Originating in 12th century England, it is believed that a monk was the first to make the sweet bun. He marked it with a cross as a way to celebrate Easter while feeding the poor.
Hot cross buns have inspired a variety of myths and legends over the years. For example, one legend states that if you place a bun in the rafters of your kitchen on Good Friday, the pastry will never go stale and would ensure that your bread will always rise. Some even believed that the buns in the rafters had healing properties and so they ground them up to use as medicine.
In 1592, Queen Elizabeth the first decreed that Hot Cross Buns could only be eaten on Good Friday, Christmas, or at funerals. These special buns were far too sacred to be consumed on any other day. Many people then began secretly baking the pastries in their own kitchens. If they were caught, they had to give their illegal buns to the poor.
Sharing Hot Cross Buns has long been a symbol of friendship. Those who share a hot cross bun on Good Friday are supposed to enjoy a strong friendship bond for the next year. A line from an old Irish rhyme says: “Half for you and half for me, between us two, good luck shall be.”
Hot Cross Buns are popular at Easter because they capture the essence of the Easter story through both the symbolism of the cross and the flavors of the bun. The cross on the top of the bun represents the cross of Jesus. For Christians, the cross has always been a symbol of hope: the hope of light overcoming darkness, of Jesus being victorious over sickness and death, and of good triumphing over evil. The fruit embedded in the buns represents the body of Christ in the tomb. The cinnamon and nutmeg represent the spices used to anoint Jesus’ body as it was wrapped in burial cloths. Finally, the risen yeast dough symbolizes Jesus rising from the grave and defeating death once and for all.
The Easter story is a story of hope. The resurrection of Jesus is God’s promise for all of creation that He will indeed “make all things new”- Revelation 21:5.
In this time of considerable uncertainty, we could all use a little hope and a reminder that God is still making all things new. So we share these buns as a reminder that no matter how dark the world may become, Jesus offers us all new life through a relationship with Him.
A simple Easter Outreach:
Make a double batch of our Ultimate Hot Cross Buns from our recipe found below.
Copy, paste, print, and insert the note below into an Easter card. The note shares the story of Easter through the symbolism of Hot Cross Buns.
Write a personal note on the card and wrap it up with your Hot Cross Buns and deliver them to a friend or neighbor.
Video call, FB message or WhatsApp your friend. Wish them a happy Easter and ask if there is anything you can do or pray for.
Easter card insert text:
We hope you enjoy these Hot Cross Buns. Originating in 12 century England, tradition says that those who share a hot cross bun on Good Friday are destined to enjoy a strong friendship all year. A line from an old Irish rhyme says: “Half for you and half for me, between us two, good luck shall be.”
Hot Cross Buns are also popular at Easter because they capture the essence of the Easter story through the symbolism of the cross and the flavors of the bun. The cross on the top of the bun represents the cross of Jesus. For Christians, the cross has always been a symbol of hope: the hope of light overcoming darkness, of Jesus being victorious over sickness and death, and of good triumphing over evil. The fruit embedded in the buns represents the body of Christ in the tomb. The cinnamon and nutmeg represent the spices used to anoint Jesus’ body as it was wrapped in burial cloths. Finally, the risen yeast dough symbolizes Jesus rising from the grave and defeating death once and for all.
The Easter story is a story of hope. The resurrection of Jesus is God’s promise for all of creation that He will indeed “make all things new”- Revelation 21:5.
He is Risen!
Earl grey & Mandarin Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Earl Grey tea and mandarin orange with lemon zest and dark chocolate bring these traditional hot cross buns to the next level.
This Recipe has been updated on April 3, 2023.
Equipment
2 Mixing bowls
2 small pots
Saucepan
Measuring cups & spoons
Microplane or citrus zester
Sheet pan or rectangular cake pan lined with parchment paper
Towel and plastic wrap
Stand Mixer with a dough hook or Bread Machine (Optional - you can also knead by hand)
Chef’s Knife
Cooling rack
Ziplock Bag
Whisk
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
1 ¾ tsp salt
4 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
¼ tsp nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
¼ tsp cloves
¼ tsp ground star anise
Zest of 2 mandarin (or 1 navel) orange
Zest of one Lemon
Wet ingredients:
Milk Tea:
¾ cup milk
2 Earl Grey Tea bags
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp instant yeast
¼ cup fresh squeezed mandarin orange juice
2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
6 Tbsp butter (room temperature)
Candied Fruit (to go inside the bun)
⅓ cup apple juice
¼ cup raisins chopped