Hot cross buns

A spiced, fruit-studded Easter bun with a sweet glaze and the traditional cross.

INGREDIENTS

     +    
Dough

270ml milk (plus 50ml reserved)

90g light brown sugar

12g dried yeast

600g strong bread flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp mixed spice

65g golden raisins

65g dark raisins

65g currants

100g soft butter

1 egg + 1 yolk

     +    
Crosses

100g plain flour

20g vegetable oil

100g water

     +    
Glaze

150g caster sugar

50g water

50g whole milk

Method

     +    

Prepare the yeast
Warm 220ml milk, keeping back 50ml. Whisk in 1 tsp sugar, add the yeast, and leave for 15 minutes until foamy.

Make the dough
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, salt, and mixed spice. Add the yeast mixture, butter, eggs, and the reserved milk as needed. Mix to a smooth dough.

Add the fruit
Knead in the raisins and currants until evenly incorporated.

First prove
Cover the bowl and leave the dough to rise for 60–90 minutes, until doubled in size.

Shape
Knock back the dough, then scale into 70g balls. Arrange on a parchment-lined tray, leaving a little space between each. Cover and prove again until doubled.

Crosses
Whisk together the flour, oil, and water for the crosses. Place in a piping bag and pipe a cross over each bun.

Bake
Brush the tops lightly with egg wash. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.

Glaze
Gently heat the sugar, water, and milk until dissolved (do not boil). Brush over the buns as soon as they come out of the oven for a glossy finish.

Hot cross buns

A spiced, fruit-studded Easter bun with a sweet glaze and the traditional cross.

INGREDIENTS

   +  &nbsp
Dough

270ml milk (plus 50ml reserved)

90g light brown sugar

12g dried yeast

600g strong bread flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp mixed spice

65g golden raisins

65g dark raisins

65g currants

100g soft butter

1 egg + 1 yolk

   +   
Crosses

100g plain flour

20g vegetable oil

100g water

   +   
Glaze

150g caster sugar

50g water

50g whole milk

Method

   +   

Prepare the yeast
Warm 220ml milk, keeping back 50ml. Whisk in 1 tsp sugar, add the yeast, and leave for 15 minutes until foamy.

Make the dough
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, salt, and mixed spice. Add the yeast mixture, butter, eggs, and the reserved milk as needed. Mix to a smooth dough.

Add the fruit
Knead in the raisins and currants until evenly incorporated.

First prove
Cover the bowl and leave the dough to rise for 60–90 minutes, until doubled in size.

Shape
Knock back the dough, then scale into 70g balls. Arrange on a parchment-lined tray, leaving a little space between each. Cover and prove again until doubled.

Crosses
Whisk together the flour, oil, and water for the crosses. Place in a piping bag and pipe a cross over each bun.

Bake
Brush the tops lightly with egg wash. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.

Glaze
Gently heat the sugar, water, and milk until dissolved (do not boil). Brush over the buns as soon as they come out of the oven for a glossy finish.

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