Spiced Christmas Buns

Add A Touch Of Ocean Spray to your Christmas spread with these spiced Christmas buns with a boozy spiced glaze using Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail and Absolut Vodka. These soft, fluffy buns are filled with Ocean Spray craisins and warm spices. They’re sweet with a touch of tang, perfect for the holidays. Your guests will be asking you for the recipe!

Spiced Christmas Buns with Boozy Cranberry Glaze

Ingredients Buns:

• 1 cup Ocean Spray Craisins
• ¾ cup Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• 4 cups bakers’ flour (all purpose flour will work also)
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg beaten
• 7 tbsp salted butter melted
• 1 cup hot water

Method:

1. Put milk in the microwave for 1 minute
2. Add melted butter to milk and set aside
3. Add Ocean Spray Craisins and Cranberry Juice Cocktail to a sauce pan then bring to a gentle simmer in a pot for 2 minutes.
4. Strain Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice from Craisins
5. Add flour, yeast, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamon, lemon zest and Ocean Spray Craisins to a bowl and combine well
6. Add milk and butter mixture and beaten egg
7. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula mix dry and wet ingredients together until a dough is formed
8. Bring dough together in bowl for 1 minute
9. Lightly dust your work surface with flour then transfer your dough unto surface knead lightly for 5 minutes. The dough should feel soft and springy.
10. Add a drizzle of oil to your bowl, add dough back to the bowl, cover and allow to rest for 45 minutes to an hour or until it doubles in size
11. Punch air out of dough and transfer back unto your work surface
12. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces
13. Form dough into small balls in the palm of your hand, rolling them then pinching the top to get the surface as smooth and tight as possible
14. Place the ball of dough back onto the surface and place your hand over it in a cupping formation then roll the dough between the work surface and your hand in a circular motion until smooth
15. Transfer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
16. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 18 – 22 minutes or until golden brown
17. Apply Spiced Cranberry Glaze while buns are still hot
18. Allow to cool a bit before eating

Ingredients Cranberry Glaze

• 1/2 cup Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• ¼ cup Absolut Vodka
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 grains whole clove
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• a pinch of salt

Method:

1. Add ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer and reduce for 10 minutes
2. For more Christmas recipes follow the hashtag #atouchofoceanspray

For more Christmas recipes follow the hashtag #atouchofoceanspray