So, this might be a rather belated Easter post. But then again, I was in Costa over the weekend and they were still selling little Easter nest cakes and fruity marzipan Easter loaves, so I am going with it!
As part of their blogger community, Sainsbury’s asked me to have a go at making an Easter recipe, and as they also sent me an Easter egg I thought I would make use of that. I based the cookie recipe on the Millie’s Cookie recipe that I love.
So here are my Hot Cross Bun cookies:
Ingredients:
125g butter/ margarine
225g sugar (mixture of caster and soft brown)
1 medium egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
225g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
100g dried fruit (I used a mixture of cherries and raisins)
A few pieces of candied orange peel, chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
Optional- White chocolate for melting
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C, line two baking trays with baking paper.
Optional- soak the cherries and raisins in a little boiling water- this plumps them up and makes them juicy.
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add in the egg, vanilla and almond extract. Sift in the flour, baking powder and spices and bring gently together. Finally mix in the dried fruit (drain the water first if you soaked them) and candied orange peel.
Spoon onto the baking trays leaving space between them as they will spread.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until brown around the edges- they will continue to cook on the baking trays a little once they come out.
Leave on the trays for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
If adding the while chocolate cross, melt some white chocolate and pipe it over the cooled cookies.
I think they look rather pretty, and the dried fruits and spices create the hot cross bun flavour.
Soaking the dried fruits
Chopping the candied orange peel
Piping on the melted white chocolate
This made 20 big cookies!
I also made some brownies, but that will have to be in another post!
Do you have any Easter Eggs left?
*Sainsbury’s provided me with some of the ingredients.
Love these as a way to get your hot cross bun fix, but not actually having to have hot cross buns. I didn’t have any Easter eggs this year, just a selection of Easter themed chocolates – they have all gone! 😉
Thanks 🙂 these are easier to make than real ones too!
I love these Maria! They look so festive too.
Thanks! Just a bit late haha!
Easter could go on and on for me personally! 🙂 These are so cute. Love the flavours. It’s funny how Easter flavours are sort of similar to Christmas – is it a religious thing? I have no idea! Maybe they’re Jesus’ favourite flavours 😉 Tee hee.
Technically I have one and a half eggs left (the half is half of an egg I’m sharing with Ben) but I think Ben will get my other whole egg as it’s a plain one (Celebrations) and I’m not a big fan of the plain eggs. I like the ones with bits and pieces in the actual egg. That way I feel justified for eating such a large amount of chocolate because it’s more special! Haha.
I suppose traditionally dried fruits and spices were exotic so only bought for special times? They are similar though- simnel cake is fruit cake with marzipan too 🙂
Awwh, these look so cute.
Yes, still have some eggs leftover, but trying to space them out over the year. I may have to lock them away though.
Thanks 🙂 I tend to forget about things if I put them away and then they go off 🙁
Love the sound of these! I did have some Easter egg left but demolished it over the weekend 🙂
Thanks 🙂 I like oatmeal raisin cookies but thought the oats wouldn’t go so made them with similar flavours.
Love the idea of turning the hot cross buns into cookies with the cross!
No Easter eggs left for me. I had one this Easter, and it was gone two days later! :S