Hot Cross Buns Recipe from Scratch – Step-by-Step Guide
Soft, spiced, and easy to make, this Hot Cross Buns Recipe from scratch is your step-by-step guide to perfect homemade buns.
Ingredients
Dough ingredients
- 625 grams (about 5 cups) plain flour
- 275 milliliters (about 1 cup + 2 tablespoons) warm milk
- 80 grams (about 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon) caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice (I use a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove)
- 1½ teaspoons dry active yeast
- 1 large egg
- 85 grams (about 3 oz) mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped apricots)
Cross topping
- 6 tablespoons plain flour
- 1/2 cup water
Glaze & icing
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons water or lemon juice (just enough to make a thick icing)
Instructions
- Pour the warm milk into a mug, add the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar, stir it, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy on top.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, remaining sugar, salt, ground spices, and egg, then pour in the foamy yeast mixture and stir until it forms a rough dough.
- Knead the dough by hand for 8 to 10 minutes until it’s smooth and stretchy, then cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour.
- Punch down the risen dough, knead in the dried fruit evenly, then divide into 15 to 18 equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
- Arrange the dough balls in a parchment-lined baking dish, close enough to touch, then cover with a towel and let them rise for another hour.
- Mix the flour and water into a thick paste for the crosses, pipe a cross over each bun, then bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- While the buns are still warm, brush the tops with honey, then mix powdered sugar with a little water or lemon juice to make icing and pipe over the crosses once the buns have cooled.