Hop into Easter with a batch of warmly-spiced and perfectly-sweetened Belizean Hot Cross Buns! These yeast-based sweet buns filled with spices and raisins are a traditional Easter delicacy. Above ‘Peeps’ and all else, they’re the one thing that stands out as the food of the season. This year, Easter is going to look differently – there’s no doubt about that – but it doesn’t mean we can’t try our best to keep certain traditions going.
Brown sugar. Photo by John Cutting on Unsplash
Rich in flavor and history, these buns date back to the 12th century with numerous theories on how they originated. Widely enjoyed worldwide, Hot Cross Buns gets its name from their signature cross, baked right on top of the dough or etched with icing. They’re soft, yet a little dense with a deliciously spiced flavor from cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. However, you can play with the spices, even adding a little cardamom too. My (optional) secret ingredient? Pineapple essence brings brightness and an untraceable tropical touch. The buns are sweetened mostly with brown sugar, giving that deep golden color. They’re also then topped with an additional brown sugar simple syrup glaze.
Enjoy traditional Belizean Hot Cross Buns this Easter
Typically eaten on Good Friday, start your Easter weekend off with this recipe of homemade Belizean Hot Cross Buns! Belizeans tend to fast from meat on Good Friday. However, the tradition of eating it on this day dates to the reign of Elizabeth I who forbid eating these buns except on Good Friday, Christmas, and at burials. This Belizean version showcases a soft, chewy bread with a dough cross baked right in, so you can — and should — eat them while hot. Slather on a swipe of butter and tuck into this traditional recipe for homemade Hot Cross Buns at home — whether in Belize or not. P.S. ditch the cross on top for a typical Belizean bun recipe.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on April 8, 2020.
