Orange Hot Cross Buns


   3/4 cup hot orange juice
   1/2 cup soft butter or margarine 
   1/2 cup sugar
   1/2 tsp cinnamon
   1/2 tsp salt
   2   pkg dry yeast
   1/2 warm orange juice
        3   eggs  
        1   cup light raisins
        1   tbl grated orange rind
        4   cups unsifted all purpose flour

 Pour hot orange juice over softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Cool to lukewarm.  Dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup warm orange juice.  Add raisins and grated rind.  Gradually beat in enough flour to make a soft dough.  Turn out on a floured surface and knead until smooth.  Place in a greased large bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until double, about 2 hours.  Punch down and turn out on a floured surface.  Shape into 18 round balls.  Place on 2 greased baking sheets, cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour.  With a sharp blade, cut a cross in top of each bun.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Remove and cool slightly.

 

                                                                                             
Glaze

   1   cup confectioners sugar 
   1   tbl boiling water

 In a small mixing bowl, stir sugar and water until smooth and creamy.  Drizzle glaze over cross on each bun.
  

Return to index