Recipes

Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Hot cross buns can take a bit of time and patience to make, but they are more than worth the wait. You can’t beat the taste and smell of freshly baked hot cross buns, so treat yourself and your friends and family this Easter.

2 minute read

For the buns:

• 300ml milk, plus 2tbsp more

• 50g butter

• 500g strong bread flour

• 75g caster sugar

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil

• 7g sachet fast-action or easy blend yeast

• 1 egg, beaten

• 125g mixed dried fruit

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp all spice

• Orange zest

For the cross:

• 75g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 5 tbsp water

For the glaze:

• Marmalade

Instructions

1. Bring the milk to the boil on the hob and stir in the butter. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to hand temperature

2. Mix the salt, sugar, yeast and flour in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in the milk and butter, and finally the beaten egg. Mix well with a wooden spoon and then use your hands to bring everything together to form a sticky dough

3. Lightly flour the work surface and knead the dough for 5 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with cling film. Place somewhere warm and leave for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size

4. Add the mixed fruit, orange zest and cinnamon into the bowl and knead into the dough. This time, cover the bowl with some well-oiled cling film so it doesn’t stick to the top, and leave for 1 more hour

5. Using a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into 15 individual balls. Arrange the buns on trays lined with baking parchment, leaving space for them to expand. Cover with a clean tea towel and prove for 1 more hour

6. Preheat the oven to 220ºC/200°C fan/gas 7. For the cross, make a thick paste with the water and flour, adding one tbsp of water at a time. Using a small nozzle and piping bag, pipe a cross on each ball

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown

8. Whilst the buns are baking, heat the marmalade in a small pan until runny. Sieve the marmalade and glaze across your hot cross buns as soon as they come out of the oven