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Hot Cross Buns

Soft and fluffy, GENEROUS SIZED Hot Cross Buns are so fragrant and surprisingly simple to make! Full of easy tips to help you every step of the way! There's nothing better than the smell of fresh homemade Hot Cross Buns wafting through your kitchen.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
Servings: 12 buns
Calories: 337 kcal
Course: Dessert , Breakfast , Snacks , Baked Goods

Ingredients

BUNS
  • 2 packets Rapid Rise Yeast or dry, instant
  • 1 ½ cups milk warm
  • ¾ cup superfine sugar or caster sugar, divided
  • 4 ½ cups bread flour or plain/all purpose, up to ¼ cup extra if needed
  • 2 teaspoons all spice or mixed spice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sultanas
  • Zest of an orange or 2 tablespoons mixed peel
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • ¼ cup butter melted and cooled slightly
CROSSES
  • ½ cup all purpose plain flour
  • 5 tablespoons water warm
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
GLAZE
  • 1 tablespoon jam orange marmalade or apricot jam -- you can also use honey, maple syrup, agave or golden syrup
  • 2 teaspoons boiling water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place yeast, milk and 2 teaspoons of the sugar in a small bowl to activate. Set aside until frothy on top, about 3-5 minutes.
  2. While yeast is activating, grab a large mixing bowl and combine flour, remaining sugar, all spice, cinnamon and salt. Give those dry ingredients a light whisk to combine, then add in the sultanas and zest.
  3. Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients; pour in the yeast, cooled melted butter and egg.
  4. FOR STANDMIXER: Mix until a smooth elastic dough forms, about 5 minutes on low speed (setting 2). Add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time while mixing, ONLY if needed, until the dough JUST pulls away from sides of bowl (not too sticky).
  5. BY HAND: If you don't have a stand mixer, lightly dust a work bench with flour. Lightly oil your hands (to prevent it from sticking to your fingers), and knead dough until soft and smooth, about 10 minutes.
  6. TEST DOUGH: Hold dough in your hands and pull slightly outwards. It should have a smooth top and not tear when stretched.
FIRST RISE
    Cup of Yum
  1. LIGHTLY oil the same mixing bowl you worked with. Place dough inside bowl, cover with plastic cling wrap and place a dry tea towel over the top. Leave in a warm place to prove for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
SHAPE INTO BUNS
  1. Line a deep 9 x 13-inch (31cm x 23cm) baking tray with baking paper. You want a piece long enough to create a slight over-hang for easier lifting once baked. Set aside.
  2. Remove cling wrap and punch down dough with fist to deflate and knock the air out. Transfer dough to a clean, lightly floured work surface.
  3. Knead dough for an additional minute or two to get remaining air out. Shape dough into a log and divide into 12 equal pieces (each piece should weigh about 4-oz. or 116-119 grams). Briefly roll each piece into a ball, evenly spacing them out on the tray as you go into rows of 3 x 4.
SECOND RISE
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) -- all ovens.
  2. Cover tray with plastic wrap; place dry tea towel over the top and leave in a warm place for an additional 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
CROSSES
  1. Mix flour and water to a thick-ish paste (like a thick pancake batter -- see photos in post).
  2. Grab a sandwich-sized ziplock bag. Snip corner to measure a 3mm hole (0.1-inch). Spoon paste into bag; carefully press the air out and SEAL the top. (Test hole is big enough by squeezing out some paste into a bowl first. If you can create a small straight line, you're ready to make your crosses. At this point you can add a little extra water to the paste ONLY IF needed).
  3. Remove cling wrap and slowly pipe crosses onto buns. You want some paste to fall into and hug each roll/crevice so while they bake and rise up, the crosses don't break).
BAKE
  1. Place buns into preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until deep, golden brown on top.
GLAZE
  1. Transfer buns to a wire cooling rack.
  2. Mix jam (or honey) and boiling water together in a small bowl. Brush buns over with glaze, then leave to cool. 
  3. Allow to cool to just warm to the touch before serving.
  4. Slice open your sticky hot cross bun, spread with butter (optional) and serve.

Notes

  • YEAST
  • Dried, instant or rapid rise yeast all work with this recipe. Use 2 packets that weigh 7g (¼-oz.) each, or about 2 ¼ teaspoons each (1 ½ tablespoons in total).
  • Even though instant or rapid rise yeast does not need to be activated before use, we still do it out of habit as a reassurance that the bread will rise. It's a great way of testing it before hand to make sure it is active.
  • Even though instant or rapid rise yeast
  • If yeast doesn't froth, throw it out. It won't work or rise.
  • MILK
  • Make sure your milk is warm enough to the touch, without burning your finger (temperature should be at 110°F or 45°C). Too hot and it kills the yeast. 
  • FLOUR
  • Bread flour is lighter and softer when compared to regular white flour. However, you can use either in this recipe.
  • TIPS
  • For day old cinnamon buns, warm them up for 15 seconds in the microwave to get them soft. Or cut in half and toast them under your broiler for 3-4 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Calories 337kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 63g (21%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 27mg (9%) Sodium 148mg (6%) Potassium 202mg (6%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 22g (44%) Vitamin A 191IU (4%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 60mg (6%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12buns

Amount Per Serving

Calories 337

% Daily Value*

Calories 337kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 63g 21%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 148mg 6%
Potassium 202mg 4%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 22g 44%
Vitamin A 191IU 4%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 60mg 6%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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