Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe

These delightful homemade Hot Cross Buns blend warm spices, plump raisins, and fluffy dough into a treat that’s surprisingly simple to make. The signature cross on top isn’t just decorative—it’s part of a centuries-old tradition that makes these buns special. Perfect for Easter celebrations or weekend breakfasts, these buns strike the perfect balance between sweetness and spice, with a wonderfully soft texture that makes store-bought versions pale in comparison.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Raisins or dried currants: These provide little bursts of natural sweetness throughout the buns. Soaking them first ensures they stay plump and juicy rather than drying out during baking.
• Milk: Creates a rich, tender crumb in the dough. Using warm milk helps activate the yeast and brings the dough together more smoothly.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps feed the yeast for proper rising. These buns aren’t overly sweet, which makes them versatile for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
• Butter: Provides richness and that melt-in-your-mouth quality. Make sure it’s properly softened for easy incorporation into the dough.
• Yeast: The magic ingredient that makes the dough rise. Active dry yeast needs to be proofed first in warm liquid to ensure it’s alive and working.
• Eggs: Add richness, color, and structure to the dough, resulting in that classic soft but sturdy hot cross bun texture.
• Flour: Forms the foundation of your dough. The protein in all-purpose flour creates just enough structure without making the buns too dense.
• Spices: The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves creates that distinctive hot cross bun flavor profile that’s gently warming without overwhelming.
• Baking powder: Gives the buns an extra lift, ensuring they’re perfectly fluffy.
• Apricot jam: Creates that signature glossy finish that makes hot cross buns look as good as they taste.

Variations

Want to put your own spin on this classic? Here are some delicious ways to make these buns your own:

• Chocolate Lover’s Version: Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips instead of (or alongside) the raisins for a modern twist.
• Orange Spice: Mix in the zest of one orange to the dough and replace the apricot jam with orange marmalade for the glaze.
• Mixed Fruit: Substitute the raisins with a mixture of dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, and candied citrus peel for a more complex flavor.
• Cinnamon Cream Cheese Crosses: Instead of the flour paste, pipe crosses using a mixture of softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and cinnamon after baking.

How to Make Easy Hot Cross Buns

Step 1: Prepare the Fruit and Yeast

Begin by soaking your raisins or currants in boiling water for 10 minutes – this plumps them up beautifully. While they’re soaking, combine 1/4 cup warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar and the yeast in a small bowl. Let this mixture rest until it becomes foamy and bubbly, about 10 minutes. This tells you your yeast is alive and ready to work its magic!

Step 2: Create the Dough Base

In your stand mixer bowl, combine the remaining warm milk, sugar, softened butter, and salt. Add the beaten eggs, your bubbly yeast mixture, and all those wonderful spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking powder. This fragrant mixture is the foundation of your buns’ flavor.

Step 3: Form the Dough

With your mixer running on low with the dough hook, gradually add the flour one cup at a time. You’ll see the mixture transform from a shaggy mess into a smooth, elastic dough as it kneads for about 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry your plumped raisins, then mix them into the dough just until they’re evenly distributed.

Step 4: First Rise

Transfer your dough to a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about an hour. This is where patience pays off – the yeast is doing important work creating that fluffy texture we’re after!

Step 5: Shape and Second Rise

Once doubled, divide the dough into 12 equal portions. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by pulling the edges toward the bottom and pinching them together. Place the balls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover again, and let them rise for another 45 minutes to an hour until they’re puffy and touching.

Step 6: Add the Crosses and Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F while the buns are on their final rise. Mix the flour and water for the crosses until smooth, transfer to a zip-top bag, snip the corner, and pipe crosses over each bun. Bake until the buns are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, about 20-24 minutes.

Step 7: Glaze and Serve

While still warm from the oven, brush the buns with the warmed apricot jam mixture. This gives them that irresistible shine and adds a subtle sweetness to the crust. Serve warm for the ultimate experience!

How to Serve

Hot cross buns are traditionally enjoyed around Easter, but they’re delicious year-round! Here are my favorite ways to serve them:

Breakfast Pairing

Split and toast the buns lightly, then spread with salted butter for a simple but perfect breakfast alongside a cup of tea or coffee.

Elevated Brunch

Serve as part of an Easter or spring brunch spread alongside scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and yogurt parfaits.

Dessert Transformation

Turn leftover buns into an incredible bread pudding by cutting them into cubes, soaking in custard, and baking until golden and puffy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store cooled buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days, though the texture will be best in the first 48 hours.

Freezing

These buns freeze beautifully! Place completely cooled buns in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked taste, wrap buns in foil and warm in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, split and toast them, or give them a quick 15-20 second zap in the microwave.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

There’s something deeply satisfying about creating these traditional Hot Cross Buns from scratch. The process connects you to centuries of baking tradition, while filling your home with the most incredible spiced aroma. Don’t worry about perfection – even slightly imperfect homemade buns have character and taste far better than anything store-bought. Give yourself the gift of this baking experience, and watch as friends and family gather around to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I promise the first bite of that warm, spiced bun will convince you that the effort was absolutely worth it!

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