Activity Center: Hot Cross Buns

Intergenerational Event—Getting to the Heart of Lent

  

Participants enjoy hot cross buns and learn about their Lenten meaning.

Download Hot Cross Buns Family Handout
To print: 1 per family
Document: 1 page

This handout explains the history and significance of the hot cross bun.

For this refreshment center, set up a table with the following items:

  • Printed handouts, one for each family
  • Hot cross buns, at least one for each participant
  • Beverages: water, juice, and/or coffee
  • Cups
  • Napkins

Tips for Obtaining Hot Cross Buns

From a bakery: Most bakeries carry hot cross buns during Lent. Estimate how many people you expect to attend your event and pre-order enough buns to serve that number. Do not count on being able to purchase them in sufficient numbers on the day of the event!

From scratch: Alternatively, you could recruit volunteers from your parish to bake hot cross buns. These buns are basic yeast rolls, spiced with cinnamon and raisins, then decorated with a “cross” of white frosting. Various recipes for hot cross buns are available in most general cookbooks and can also be found on the Internet by typing “hot cross buns recipe” into a search engine.

On the fly: If time and resources are scarce, you can adapt any sort of ready-made dinner roll or raisin bun. Just decorate each one with the frosting “cross” and enjoy!