Chai & Cherry Hot Cross Buns – Smith Teamaker

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 heaping tablespoon of Masala Chai
• 2-1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature and cut into cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/4 to 1/2 cup for kneading
• 1 cup drained and roughly chopped canned tart cherries (we used Oregon Fruit)
• 1 cup freshly boiled water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons Chai-Spiced Syrup
• 1 cup sifted confectioners sugar