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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Traditional Hot Cross Buns

    Published: Mar 21, 2019 Modified: January 18, 2022 by Nina

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    A bun sliced open with some butter on it.

    These traditional hot cross buns are delicately spiced and have a variety of raisins in them. Leave them out if you like, or add currants. A wonderful treat for Easter!

    A plate of buns.
    Jump straight to the recipe!
    • 🐣What are hot cross buns?
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • ✔️Expert Tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • 📖Related recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    These traditional hot cross buns are so soft, flaky, sweet and just melt in your mouth! They are perfect with a cup of tea or coffee, and if you have leftovers, you can make an amazing bread pudding out of them!

    If you are looking for more Easter recipes, try my Italian Easter Bread.

    🐣What are hot cross buns?

    Hot cross buns are a traditional yeasted sweet bun that is served around Easter. They are filled with spices and dried fruit, such as raisins, currants or citrus. They are decorated with a white cross piped on top, which represents the crucifix, and a sweet glaze.

    🥘Ingredients

    Ingredient list for making hot cross buns.

    Ingredient notes

    • Yeast - I use active dry yeast, but use whichever kind you are used to. The rising times will vary depending on type.
    • Milk - I prefer whole milk in this recipe, but 2% would work too.
    • Unsalted butter - if you only have salted butter, use that and omit the added salt.
    • Thompson raisins and sultana raisins - you could use just one kind or raisins, both, or even add in currants or citrus.
    A bun sliced open with some butter on it.

    🔪Instructions

    I used my dinner roll recipe as a starting point for these traditional hot cross buns, and doubled it as I wanted 12 larger rolls. Start by stirring the yeast, sugar and milk together. Let that mixture sit for a few minutes to make sure the yeast is active.

    Add in butter, eggs and all the spices. Next add in ¾ of the amount of flour. Knead that together, add the salt, and then add in more flour, a bit at a time, until the dough comes together and is not very sticky to the touch.

    Hot cross buns recipe steps 1.

    Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it is doubled in size. After it has doubled, divide the dough into 12 rolls. I like to weigh the dough to make sure all the rolls are the same size, but you could also just eyeball it. Make sure the rolls are smooth on top and sealed on the bottom.

    Place the rolls onto parchment lined baking sheets and cover with kitchen towels. Allow the rolls to double in size, then apply the crosses, and bake.

    Crosses

    Hot cross buns recipe step 2.

    I make the crosses on top of these rolls with a flour/water mixture. You can use a piping bag or use a sandwich bag and snip off a corner. The crosses get piped on before they are baked.

    You can also opt for a royal icing cross if you want a bit more sweetness. The crosses would be piped on after baking and the buns have cooled.

    A sweet glaze of warm milk and melted sugar gets brushed on top of the buns after being baked. This makes the hot cross buns shiny and sweet.

    For more step by step photos, view the web story for Traditional Hot Cross Buns.

    A plate full of hot cross buns.

    ✔️Expert Tips

    • Yeast - This recipe calls for active dry yeast, but you can use whichever type of yeast you prefer. The rising times will change depending on the type of yeast though (i.e. instant yeast will have a faster rise).
    • Milk - Lower fat milks will work, but the buns will lose a bit of it's richness.
    • Add-ins - This recipe calls for 2 different kinds of raisins. Use just one kind if you like, add in currents, candied fruit, lemon or orange zest. Keep the total amount of add-ins to ¾ cup.
    • Overnight - Shape the rolls and before you let them rise, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the buns from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature and rise, about 4 hours. Pipe the crosses on them and bake uncovered.
    • Icing Crosses - If you prefer to make the crosses with royal icing, do not pipe the crosses on before baking the buns. Bake them and then once cooled, pipe the crosses on. Let the royal icing dry before brushing the glaze on top.

    💭FAQs

    Can these be frozen?

    These hot cross buns can be frozen and re-warmed another day. Have them come to room temperature and reheat.

    You could also freeze them after you have shaped them into individual rolls. Then you can take the rolls out of the freezer, allow them to come to room temperature and double in size. Pipe the crosses on them and then bake.

    Why are hot cross buns eaten at Easter?

    Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten over the Christian Easter holiday, to symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus.

    Why are my hot cross buns heavy?

    There could be a few reasons. The most common is over kneading, which can happen easily if you use a stand mixer.
    Adding too much flour is another reason. Be careful to add just enough so that the dough just cleans the bowl (not sticky).

    A sliced open hot cross bun with some butter on it.

    📖Related recipes

    • Snappy Turtle Cookies
    • Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}
    • Authentic Key Lime Pie {without condensed milk}
    • White Cake with Strawberry Filling

    Let's Bake Together!

    Step-by-step instructions are all written in my recipe below. If you liked it, please rate me 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

    If you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

    📋 Recipe

    Buns on a white plate.

    Hot Cross Buns

    Nina
    These hot cross buns are delicately spiced and have a variety of raisins in them. Leave them out if you like, or add currants. A wonderful treat for Easter!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 2 hrs
    Cook Time 14 mins
    Total Time 2 hrs 14 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine British
    Servings 12 buns
    Calories 396 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Hot Cross Buns

    • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 cup whole milk warm
    • 5 tablespoon unsalted butter room temperature
    • 2 large eggs beaten
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 3 - 4 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup thompson raisins
    • ¼ cup sultana raisins

    Cross

    • ¼ cup all purpose flour
    • 3 tablespoon water

    Glaze

    • 2 tablespoons whole milk
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Hot Cross Buns
    • In a bowl of a stand mixture fitted with the dough hook attachment, add yeast, sugar and milk. Mix together and then add in butter, eggs and spices.
    • Weigh flour into a separate bowl and then add in ¾ of the amount of flour to the other ingredients. Add in salt and knead together. Add in a tablespoon of the remaining flour at a time until the dough comes together and just cleans the bowl.
    • Knead both types of raisins into the dough.
    • Place dough into a large greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm environment until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover 2 baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Punch down the risen dough and weigh it. Divide that amount by 12 to figure out how much each hot cross bun should weigh to get similar sizing.
    • Form each bun and place on the prepared baking trays. Cover loosely with parchment paper and let rise for 30 minutes.
    • Cross
    • In a small bowl, mix flour and water together to make a loose paste. Fill the paste into a piping bag and cut a small hole off the bottom. Pipe crosses onto the buns before they go into the oven.
    • Bake for 12 - 14 minutes or until golden brown.

    • Glaze
    • In a small bowl, mix the milk and sugar together. Dissolve the sugar by warming up the mixture in a microwave.
    • Brush the glaze over the tops of each bun after they come out of the oven.
    • Hot cross buns are best eaten the day they are made, but will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave.

    Notes

    1. Yeast - This recipe calls for active dry yeast, but you can use whichever type of yeast you prefer. The rising times will change depending on the type of yeast though (i.e. instant yeast will have a faster rise).
    2. Milk - Lower fat milks will work, but the buns will lose a bit of it's richness.
    3. Add-ins - This recipe calls for 2 different kinds of raisins. Use just one kind if you like, add in currents, candied fruit, lemon or orange zest. Keep the total amount of add-ins to ¾ cup.
    4. Freezing - Shape the rolls and before you let them rise, put them in the freezer. Once frozen, you can put them in a freezer bag. They won't stick together then. These can be frozen for up to 3 months. On the day you serve them, arrange them on a parchment lined baking sheet, cover with a kitchen towel, and let them thaw and rise at room temperature for about 5-6 hours. Pipe the crosses on them and bake.
    5. Overnight - Shape the rolls and before you let them rise, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the buns from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature and rise, about 4 hours. Pipe the crosses on them and bake uncovered.
    6. Icing Crosses - If you prefer to make the crosses with royal icing, do not pipe the crosses on before baking the buns. Bake them and then once cooled, pipe the crosses on. Let the royal icing dry before brushing the glaze on top.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 12gCalories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 11gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 219mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 223IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Robert Chetwynd

      April 04, 2021 at 8:13 am

      I adapted your recipe for my bread machine and I used 1 1/4 cups of milk instead of 1 cup and 4 1/2 cups flour I think they turned out really nice.

      Reply
      • Nina

        April 05, 2021 at 7:25 am

        That's great Robert! I am so glad you like it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

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