Homemade Hot Cross Buns (Printable Version)

Soft spiced hot cross buns studded with raisins and apricot glaze. Makes 12.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups (500 g) bread flour
02 - 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp (7 g) active dry yeast
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 tsp ground allspice
08 - 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, lukewarm
09 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted
10 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
11 - 1 cup (150 g) raisins or currants
12 - Zest of 1 orange (optional)

→ Cross Paste

13 - 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
14 - 5–6 tbsp water

→ Glaze

15 - 1/4 cup (60 g) apricot jam or honey
16 - 1 tbsp water

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Mix well.
02 - Add lukewarm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until a sticky dough forms.
03 - Knead by hand or with a stand mixer (dough hook) for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Add raisins (and orange zest, if using), kneading just to incorporate.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
06 - Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape each into a smooth ball.
07 - Place buns on a parchment-lined baking tray, spaced slightly apart. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes, until puffy.
08 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
09 - Mix flour and water for the cross paste to a thick, pipeable consistency. Transfer to a piping bag or small zip-top bag, snip the tip, and pipe a cross over each bun.
10 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
11 - While baking, heat jam (or honey) with water until smooth.
12 - Brush warm buns with glaze as soon as they come out of the oven.
13 - Cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting from the oven will make your whole home feel like a cozy bakery.
  • This dough is remarkably forgiving—studded with juicy raisins, it turns out beautifully even if your piping hand isn’t perfect.
02 -
  • If the milk is too hot, your yeast can’t do its job—I once had to start over with a new batch after this mishap.
  • Letting the buns rise until they just touch gives you that soft, pull-apart edge I now consider essential.
03 -
  • For even rising, space the buns just far enough apart—they’ll help each other stay soft as they bake.
  • A citrusy twist (orange or lemon zest) brightens up the traditional spices in a way that surprises everyone.
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