Name: Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 4 cups strong bread flour; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 1 cup milk; 1/4 cup unsalted butter; 2 1/4 teaspoons instant or active dry yeast; 2 tablespoons honey; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon orange zest; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 1 cup raisins; 1/2 cup currants; 1/4 cup mixed peel; Cross Paste: 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup water; Glaze: 2 tablespoons apricot jam, 1 tablespoon water

Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns

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Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns

Home

Baking

Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns

April 17, 2025

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Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns: A Spiced Easter Treat 🍞✝️🌟

1. Introduction

Easter is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with the comforting aroma of freshly baked homemade hot cross buns filling your kitchen? This best hot cross buns recipe ensures you’ll create a batch of incredibly soft, perfectly spiced, and utterly delicious buns that your family and friends will absolutely adore. Forget the often-disappointing store-bought versions – with our easy-to-follow guide, you’ll master the surprisingly simple art of making these traditional treats completely from scratch. Whether you consider yourself a seasoned baking pro or are just starting out on your baking adventures, this easy hot cross buns recipe is thoughtfully designed to be both straightforward and incredibly rewarding. So, let’s embark on this delightful baking journey together and create the perfect Easter delight! For another breakfast option, check out these Cheesy Potato Egg Scrambles!

Delicious homemade hot cross buns in a basket, ready to eat.

2. What are Hot Cross Buns?

Hot cross buns are beautifully sweet, warmly spiced buns traditionally eaten on Good Friday. Distinctively marked with a cross on top, they poignantly symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus. Because of this deep symbolism, they’re a beloved staple of Easter celebrations in a myriad of cultures around the world. The carefully selected spices in traditional hot cross buns, consider cinnamon and nutmeg, work harmoniously to add both warmth and a wonderful depth of complex flavor, while the generous addition of dried fruits provides a delightful sweetness and interesting texture. Our recipe thoughtfully elevates this much-loved classic treat, ensuring a memorable homemade version that comfortably surpasses all expectations. If you love fruity desserts, give this Creamy Mango Pudding a try!

3. Why Make Hot Cross Buns from Scratch?

While it’s certainly tempting to simply purchase them from a store, making homemade hot cross buns empowers you to have complete control over each and every ingredient. This allows you to easily customize the flavors to perfectly suit your personal preferences. You have the creative freedom to easily adjust the overall sweetness, fine-tune the levels of spice, and carefully select the specific fruit additions to craft a truly unique and personalized batch. Plus, who can deny that the comforting aroma of baking bread is simply irresistible? It effortlessly creates a warm and incredibly inviting atmosphere that envelops your entire home. This best hot cross buns recipe provides you with the immense satisfaction of knowing precisely what goes into your food, as well as the immeasurable joy of thoughtfully sharing something lovingly homemade with those you care about most. If you need more ideas for baking, take a look at our baking category.

4. Key Ingredients for the Best Hot Cross Buns

Flour: Use strong bread flour for a satisfyingly good rise and delightfully chewy texture.
Yeast: Instant or active dry yeast will both work wonderfully, ensuring a beautifully light and airy bun.
Milk & Butter: These add essential richness and appealing softness to the dough.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice create that signature warm and comforting flavor we all crave.
Dried Fruit: Raisins, currants, and mixed peel all provide a burst of delightful sweetness and interesting texture.
Citrus Zest: Orange and lemon zest work together to wonderfully enhance both the aroma and the overall flavor profile.
Sugar & Honey: These sweeten the buns while also adding much-needed moisture.

5. Step-by-Step Guide to Making Homemade Hot Cross Buns

1. Preparing the Dough

In a generously sized large bowl, combine your flour, sugar, salt, and carefully measured spices. Gently warm the milk and butter together until the butter is completely melted, then add your yeast and honey. Allow this to sit undisturbed for a few minutes until it becomes delightfully frothy. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the eggs and citrus zest, and gently mix until a shaggy dough starts to form. Knead the dough for a good 8-10 minutes until it transforms into a smooth and wonderfully elastic texture. Finally, gently fold in your selected dried fruit.

Ingredients for hot cross buns dough in a mixing bowl.

2. Proving the Dough

Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning it gently to coat evenly. Cover the bowl snugly with plastic wrap and let it rise in a consistently warm place for approximately 1-1.5 hours, or until it has impressively doubled in size. This seemingly simple step is absolutely crucial for achieving beautifully light and fluffy easy hot cross buns. A good, strong rise ensures the resulting buns are wonderfully soft and airy in texture.

Hot cross buns dough proving and rising under a cloth.

3. Shaping and Baking the Buns

Gently punch down the beautifully risen dough to release any trapped air, and then carefully divide it into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth and uniform ball and place them thoughtfully on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring you leave adequate space between each bun to allow for further rising. Cover the shaped buns loosely and let them rise for another 30-40 minutes. Gently brush the tops of the buns with a lightly beaten egg wash to give them a beautifully appealing golden sheen as they bake. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until they are uniformly golden brown in color. You can also have a sweet treat for Easter, like this Easter Dirt Cake!

Hot cross buns on a baking sheet brushed with glaze before baking.

4. Adding the Crosses and Glaze

While the buns are lovingly baking in the oven, take the time to prepare the signature cross paste by simply mixing flour and water until it forms a smooth, easily pipeable consistency. Once the buns are beautifully baked and out of the oven, allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet. Carefully transfer the cross paste to a piping bag fitted with a small tip, or alternatively, use a zip-lock bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Skillfully pipe the crosses onto the top of each bun in a neat and even pattern. For the final glaze, gently heat some apricot jam with a small amount of water until it melts and becomes smooth, then delicately brush it over the still-warm buns to give them a stunningly glossy and appealing finish. The crosses and glaze work together harmoniously to give these traditional hot cross buns their recognizably signature look and delightfully sweet flavor. For another flavor you can give these Lemon Poppy Seed a try!

Piping icing crosses onto freshly baked hot cross buns.

6. Tips for Perfect Hot Cross Buns

Use Fresh Yeast: Always ensure your yeast is still active for the best possible rise and a light, airy texture.
Don’t Overknead: Knead the dough until it achieves a smooth and elastic consistency, but be careful to avoid overkneading, which can result in a tougher bun.
Warm Environment: Provide a consistently warm, draft-free environment for proving the dough; this helps the yeast work optimally.
Even Baking: Rotate the baking sheet thoughtfully halfway through the baking time to promote even browning on all sides of the buns.
Cool Before Glazing: Allow the baked buns to cool slightly before applying the glaze to prevent it from melting completely and running off the sides.

7. Variations and Add-ins

Feel free to unleash your inner creativity and experiment with a variety of different dried fruits, such as dried cranberries or finely chopped dates. You could also add chocolate chips for a wonderfully decadent twist that both kids and adults will adore. For a richer and more complex flavor profile, consider using brown sugar instead of white sugar in the dough. Some people also enjoy adding a touch of ground cardamom or ginger to the spice blend for an extra layer of warmth. Get creative in the kitchen and make these homemade hot cross buns uniquely your own! For more inspiration, you can check out this recipe from RecipeTin Eats. If you like carrot cake, you need to try this Carrot Cake recipe!

8. Serving and Storing Your Hot Cross Buns

Serve your beautifully baked best hot cross buns still warm from the oven with a generous smear of creamy butter or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. They are also incredibly delicious toasted the next day, bringing out their slightly caramelized flavors. Store any leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain their freshness, or alternatively, freeze them for longer storage. To reheat, simply warm them gently in the oven or microwave until they become soft and fragrant once again. If you would like other ideas for breakfast, check our breakfast category.

9. Conclusion

Making homemade hot cross buns is truly a delightful way to meaningfully celebrate Easter and create lasting, cherished memories with your loved ones. This accessible and easy hot cross buns recipe thoughtfully provides all the necessary steps and handy tips you’ll need to bake a beautiful batch of wonderfully soft, perfectly spiced, and utterly delicious buns that are sure to impress everyone who tastes them. So go ahead, carefully gather your ingredients, preheat your oven with anticipation, and get ready to thoroughly enjoy the comforting aroma and unforgettable taste of the absolute best hot cross buns you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing!