Hot Cross Buns
Delightful and soft, these Hot Cross Buns are lightly spiced with dried fruit, perfect for breakfast or a casual family dinner. They're easy to prepare and freeze beautifully.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet (about 2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt Cut back if using salted butter
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk Use whole milk for deeper flavor
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup butter Melted
- 2 large eggs Can be replaced with flax eggs for egg-free version
Fruits and Toppings
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, etc.)
- 1/4 cup candied orange peel Can be substituted with orange zest
- 1/2 cup flour For the cross mixture
- water to make a paste Add enough to create a pipeable paste
- 1/4 cup apricot jam For glazing
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Heat milk, water, and butter until warm (105-110°F), then whisk in eggs.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, kneading until smooth, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add dried fruit and orange peel, kneading again until evenly distributed.
Rising
- Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Punch down, shape into 12 equal buns, and place on a baking tray.
- Let rise again for 30 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Pipe the cross mixture on top of the buns.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
- Brush with apricot glaze while warm.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
For best texture after freezing, thaw at room temperature or warm in a low oven. Use a piping bag for the cross mixture for neat application. Store buns in a bread box for up to a day or refrigerate for longer storage.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 150mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6g
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