Ah, Hot Cross Buns 🍞✨—sweet, spiced buns traditionally eaten at Easter, marked with the iconic cross on top. Soft, slightly sweet, and fragrant with cinnamon, nutmeg, and often dotted with currants or raisins.
Here’s a classic homemade recipe:
Classic Hot Cross Buns
Makes: 12 buns
Prep time: 2 hours (includes rising)
Bake time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice (optional)
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup currants or raisins
For the cross
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 5–6 tbsp water (to form a thick paste)
For the glaze
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Activate yeast
- Warm milk + 1 tsp sugar. Stir in yeast and let sit 5–10 min until foamy.
- Make dough
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, and spices.
- Add yeast mixture, melted butter, and egg.
- Mix into a soft dough, then knead 8–10 min until smooth.
- Add fruit
- Knead in currants or raisins until evenly distributed.
- First rise
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Shape buns
- Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Shape into smooth balls and place on a greased or lined baking sheet.
- Cover and let rise 30–45 min.
- Make crosses
- Mix flour + water into a thick paste.
- Pipe a cross over each bun.
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake 18–20 minutes until golden.
- Glaze
- Boil sugar + water until sugar dissolves.
- Brush over hot buns immediately after baking.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Soft buns: Use milk and butter for a tender crumb.
- Even rise: Let buns proof in a warm, draft-free spot.
- Spicy variation: Add a pinch of cloves or ginger.
- Gluten-free option: Replace flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum if needed.
🍴 Serving Ideas
- Warm with butter
- Split and fill with jam
- Great with tea or coffee
If you like, I can also give you a quick 1-hour hot cross bun recipe or a mini-bun version that’s perfect for breakfast or snacks.
Do you want the quick version?
