Description
Nothing says Easter like freshly baked hot cross buns! Our easy hot cross buns recipe delivers perfectly spiced, fluffy buns with that iconic cross decoration – all with minimal effort. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned pro, this simplified version guarantees delicious results every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (500g) bread flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups (300ml) warm milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup (60g) melted butter
- 3/4 cup (120g) raisins or mixed dried fruit
- 1/2 cup (60g) flour (for cross)
- 5–6 tbsp water (for cross)
- 2 tbsp apricot jam (for glaze)
- 1 tbsp water (for glaze)
Instructions
- Whisk together dry ingredients (flour, sugar, yeast, spices, and salt)
- Add warm milk, egg, and melted butter to form a dough, then mix in raisins
- Knead dough for 8-10 minutes until smooth, then let rise for 1 hour
- Divide dough into 12 pieces, shape into balls, and let rise for 30 minutes
- Pipe flour-water paste crosses onto buns
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown
- Brush warm buns with apricot jam glaze
Notes
- Best served warm with butter
- Store in airtight container for up to 3 days
- Freeze for up to 3 months – thaw and refresh in oven
- Day-old buns toast beautifully
- Perfect for Easter breakfast or afternoon tea
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 220 Kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: quick hot cross buns, easy hot cross buns recipe, Easter baking, spiced buns, homemade hot cross buns, quick Easter treats