Wishing everyone a lovely Easter

Date: 27th March 2024, Posted by mollie

Whether you celebrate or not, Easter weekend is upon us, and that means so are Easter treats! I wanted to share with you a gluten-free Hot Cross Bun recipe I discovered recently and another traditional recipe. I’ve never made my own hot cross buns, and it was so much fun! Scroll to the end of this blog for the recipe.

There are many ways to celebrate Easter in a joyful way! Here are some ideas:

1. Easter Egg Hunt: Organize an egg hunt in your backyard or at a local park. Hide colorful Easter eggs and let everyone, young and old, enjoy the thrill of searching for them.

2. Decorate Easter Eggs: Get creative and decorate Easter eggs with various colors, designs, and patterns. You can use paint, markers, stickers, or even try natural dyes for a unique touch.

3. Bake Easter Treats: Spend some time in the kitchen and bake delicious Easter-themed treats like hot cross buns, carrot cake, or sugar cookies. Get the whole family involved and have fun decorating them.

4. Attend Church Services: Easter is a religious holiday for many, so attending church services or participating in virtual religious ceremonies can be a meaningful way to celebrate the day.

5. Have a Family Brunch: Gather your loved ones for a special Easter brunch. Prepare a feast with traditional dishes like ham, roasted vegetables, and sweet treats like pastries or pancakes.

6. Send Easter Greetings: Spread the joy by sending Easter greetings to friends and family. You can send personalized cards, e-cards, or even a heartfelt message through social media.

7. Enjoy Outdoor Activities: Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and plan outdoor activities like picnics, nature walks, or bike rides. It’s a great way to celebrate and appreciate the season.

8. Give Back: Easter is also a time for giving and helping others. Consider volunteering at a local charity, donating to a food bank, or participating in community service activities to make a positive impact.

9. Do Something You Love: Along with baking I love writing! I’m having so much fun writing the final scenes of Bought By The Sheikh which releases May 30…scroll to the very end for the purchase links. I’ll be releasing a fun excerpt with an Easter Egg hunt to my newsletter subscribers, join here and receive exclusive content>>

Remember, the most important thing is to spend quality time with your loved ones, embrace the spirit of Easter, and create joyful memories together. 🌷🐣

Gluten-free Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients: 

6 portions 

For the Buns: 

• 3 cups (380g) gluten-free all-purpose flour (ensure it’s a blend meant for bread) 
• 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar 
• 1 tablespoon (10g) instant yeast 
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) salt 
• 2 teaspoons (4g) allspice 
• 1/2 cup (120ml) warm milk (dairy or plant-based) 
• 1/4 cup (60ml) unsalted butter, melted (or 60ml coconut oil for dairy-free) 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) vanilla extract 
• 3/4 cup (110g) raisins 
• Zest of 1 orange 
• For the Cross: 
• 1/2 cup (70g) gluten-free all-purpose flour 
• 5 tablespoons (75ml) water 
• For the Glaze: 
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey 
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) water 

Instructions: 

Preparing the Dough:

• Make a starter: Combine warm milk with yeast and sugar. Leave for 10 minutes to dissolve the yeast.Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, salt, and allspice.
• Add Wet Ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the warm milk with yeast and sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. The dough will be stickier than traditional wheat dough.
• Incorporate Fruits: Gently fold in the raisins and orange zest until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• First Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, or until the dough has nearly doubled in size.

Shaping the Buns:

• Divide the Dough: After the first rise, gently deflate the dough. Divide it into 6 equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth ball and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each bun.
• Second Rise: Loosely cover the shaped buns with a clean kitchen towel. Let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until they’re puffy.

Preparing the Cross:

• Make the Paste: While the buns are undergoing their second rise, mix the gluten-free flour and water to create a thick paste. If the paste is too thick or too runny, adjust by adding a little more water or flour, respectively.
• Apply the Cross: Spoon the paste into a piping bag with a small nozzle. Pipe a cross on top of each bun.

Baking:

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Bake the Buns: Place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.

Glazing:

• Prepare the Glaze: While the buns are baking, mix the honey and water.
• Glaze the Buns: Once the buns are baked, remove them from the oven. While they’re still warm, brush them with the honey-water glaze. This will give them a lovely shine and a sweet finish.

Source: https://www.bloomhealthy.co/gluten-free-baking

Traditional Hot Cross Buns

The joy of baking has seized me with her marvelous capacity for transcendence…looking forward to watching my buns in the oven rise! 🥙🐣❤️

My mother and grandmother taught me to bake… and to create what you love. And later while at a convent school, along with Christian Living classes and, happily, learning about other faiths, I went to cooking and baking classes with other girls… they were happy times

For this recipe I’m sticking to the trusty, tried and true, old-fashioned Edmonds Cookbook Recipe

my joy-filled dough on Easter Friday, 2024

BOUGHT BY THE SHEIKH

Releases May 30

Preorder this book through the links below…

AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRR3XQ5M

AMAZON CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CRR3XQ5M

AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CRR3XQ5M

AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CRR3XQ5M

UNIVERSAL LINK: https://mybook.to/BoughtByTheSheikh

iBOOK, BARNES AND NOBLE, AND OTHER GREAT BOOKSTORES

https://books2read.com/u/mKXvo5

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com//en/ebook/bought-by-the-sheikh-1

BOUGHT BY THE SHEIKH is part of Mollie Mathews’ THE SHEIKHS UNTAMED BRIDES series starring Maverick Sheikh Billionaires. While it can easily be read as a standalone story, you’ll likely enjoy reading the other books, too.

THE SHEIKHS UNTAMED BRIDES

Claimed by the Sheikh (Tariq and Melanie)

Stolen By The Sheikh (Anwar and Lucy)

Bought By The Sheikh (Fazza and Grace)

🌸 Wishing everyone a lovely Easter celebration! 🐰 May your day be filled with joy, love, and lots of chocolate eggs! 🥚🍫 Remember to take some time to appreciate the beauty of spring and spend quality time with your loved ones. Sending you all warm wishes and blessings on this special day. Happy Easter! 🌷🌼 #EasterCelebration #JoyfulSpring #LoveAndChocolate

Posted in: Mollie's Blog