Ostara Hot Cross Buns

4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 pkg. yeast
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 tsp. allspice
2 cups warm milk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1 cup currants
1/2 cup candied peel

ICING:
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 tbs. milk


Add yeast to sweetened milk let sit 5 minutes. Mix dry ingredients, cut in butter, then eggs, then milk. Stir in currants and candied peel. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Spray 24 medium/large muffin cups, fill 2/3 full. Spray tops with butter spray, cover and let rise until almost double, about 20-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375o. bake for about 20 minutes, until browned. Cool on rack until warm. Combine sugar and milk until smooth, spoon into piping bag.

Pipe Celtic crosses on top. Or cut across buns with bolline.

These cakes are traditional treats at the Vernal Equinox. The equilateral solar cross on top predates Christianity and represents the minor Sabbats; the solstices and the equinoxes.