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!