Traditional Hot Cross Buns Recipe

5 from 14 votes

Traditional Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Hot Cross Buns Recipe is a sweet and spiced, soft and fluffy homemade bun that you should try. The combination of warm spices and dried fruit makes these buns flavorful. These fruity, spiced buns are baked on Good Friday and Easter as a tradition.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Resting Time3

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American, United Kingdom

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: Buns

Calories: 286kcal

Author: Kushi

Equipment

Baking pan or tray

Ingredients

1 ½ cups Warm milk
½ cup Sugar
2 teaspoon Active dry yeast
1 Egg
4 tablespoon Butter melted and cooled
½ teaspoon Salt
2 tablespoon Orange zest
2 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 cups Flour an additional ½ cup may be needed
⅔ cup Currants raisins

For the cross

¼ cup Flour
4 tablespoon water

For the glaze

2 tablespoon Jam of your choice
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Make the dough and let it rise.

Add milk and sugar to a warm bowl and mix until sugar dissolves. Add active dry yeast and whisk.
1 ½ cups Warm milk, ½ cup Sugar, 2 teaspoon Active dry yeast
Add egg, butter, salt, orange zest, and cinnamon to this and mix well.
1 Egg, 4 tablespoon Butter, ½ teaspoon Salt, 2 tablespoon Orange zest, 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Add 4 cups flour and currants and mix until everything is combined.
4 cups Flour, ⅔ cup Currants
Add another ½ cup of flour if needed, and knead for 10 minutes until the dough comes away from the side of the bowl and no longer sticks to your fingers.
Cover and let the dough rise for 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size. (time varies based on how warm the weather is).

Form balls and second rise

Line your baking pan or tray with parchment appear and keep it aside.
Punch the risen dough and deflate. Dust the working surface and transfer the dough.
Shape it into a log and cut it into 12 pieces.
Take each piece of dough and form a ball by pinching the seam side down.
Place the smooth side up on a baking tray. Repeat for the remaining dough.
Cover and let it rise for one hour.

Make the crosses

In a bowl, add flour and water and mix well to form a thick, smooth paste.
¼ cup Flour, 4 tablespoon water
Transfer it to a piping bag.
Make crosses onto the buns.

Bake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the surface turns deep golden brown.

Gloss

Place jam and water in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Mix to combine.
2 tablespoon Jam, 1 tablespoon water
Brush the buns with jam while still warm.
Let this cool for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy. Happy Easter.

Video

Notes

The stickier the dough, the softer your hot cross buns will be. A hard, dry dough will result in hard buns, so do not add too much flour. Always start with 4 cups and then slowly add as needed.
The amount of flour will vary based on weather conditions and the brand of flour used.
Instead of raisins, you can add currants or dried fruits.
I baked at 400 degrees F for the first 10 minutes, then reduced the temperature to 350 degrees, and then baked again for 12 minutes.

Nutrition