Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Big, fluffy, fragrant Hot Cross Buns just like what you get from your favorite bakery are easier to make than you think. Especially if you have a stand mixer. Homemade Hot Cross Buns become a dump-and-mix job to make the dough. Definitely my preferred method! These Hot Cross Buns are way better than the stock standard ones you buy from grocery stores. Those are pumped with preservatives and have a distinct artificial flavor about them. Once you’ve tried homemade, you will never go back.

In this Hot Cross Buns recipe, I’m going to give you three different ways to make the dough: 1. stand mixer – easiest, my default way; 2. kneading by hand – takes 10 minutes, and requires decent arm strength; or 3. simple no knead version – all you need is a bowl, wooden spoon and 1 minute of easy stirring. The easiest method of all, this will make buns that are ever so slightly less fluffy and do not keep quite as well. But it is a small compromise for the effort you will save!

Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons instant or rapid rise yeast (9 grams)
• 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar (superfine sugar)
• 1 1/2 cups (375ml) milk, warm , full fat or low fat
• 4 1/4 cups (640g) bread flour (or plain / all purpose)
• 2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 2 tsp All Spice OR Mixed Spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups (210g) sultanas
• 1 - 2 oranges, zest only
• 50g / 3.5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg , at room temperature
• 1/4 cup (35g) Extra bread flour
• CROSSES:
• 1/2 cup (75g) flour (any white flour)
• 5 tbsp water
• GLAZE:
• 1 tbsp apricot jam
• 2 tsp water