Description
Spiced Easter “Hot Cross Buns” blend traditional British bakery magic with sweet fruity notes and delicate cross-topped perfection. Warm home kitchens fill with comforting aromas while you create these classic festive treats perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm milk (110F / 43°C)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup raisins or currants
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Cross:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 56 tablespoons water
For the Glaze:
- ¼ cup apricot jam or honey, warmed
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by whisking it into slightly warm milk, allowing the mixture to transform and become frothy within 5-10 minutes.
- Incorporate sweet granulated sugar, melted butter, fragrant vanilla, delicate salt, warming spices, whisked eggs, and bright orange zest into the yeast mixture, stirring until thoroughly blended.
- Gradually fold in flour, kneading the dough either manually or using a stand mixer until a smooth, elastic texture emerges, which typically requires 8-10 minutes of continuous working.
- Gently fold dried raisins or currants throughout the dough, ensuring even distribution of the sweet morsels.
- Transfer the dough to a generously greased bowl, drape with a clean kitchen towel, and allow it to rest and expand in a draft-free, warm environment for approximately 1-1.5 hours until its volume doubles.
- Deflate the risen dough and partition it into 12 uniform portions, tenderly shaping each into a rounded ball before nestling them into a prepared baking dish.
- Cover the dough balls and permit a second rising period, allowing them to become puffy and interconnected over 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to a precise 375°F (190°C), preparing for baking.
- Create a thick pastry cross topping by blending flour and water, then carefully pipe the decorative markings across each bun’s surface.
- Bake until the buns achieve a rich, golden-brown complexion, approximately 20-25 minutes.
- While still radiating warmth, delicately brush the buns with heated apricot jam or golden honey, creating a lustrous, appetizing glaze.
- Serve these aromatic treats either freshly warm or at comfortable room temperature, perfect for sharing.
Notes
- Activate yeast carefully by using warm (not hot) milk to ensure proper rising and prevent killing the yeast.
- Customize spice blend with additional warm spices like cardamom or nutmeg for deeper flavor complexity.
- Replace raisins with dried cranberries or chocolate chips for unique variations that suit different taste preferences.
- Adapt for gluten-free diets by substituting regular flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend and adding xanthan gum for better texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg