Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns are sweet rolls flavored with cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg and orange zest. They are decorated with a cross for Easter Sunday.
Hot cross buns are simple and delicious sweet rolls that are popular for Easter. They are flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and all spice and have raisins scattered throughout. What makes these buns popular around Easter is the signature cross on top of the buns.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious flavor. The buns are spiced and lightly sweetened for plenty of flavor. They also have orange zest, which nicely complements the spices.
- Soft and fluffy! The rolls are oh-so-tender and delicious with a bit of butter or jam.
- Easy to make ahead of time. Store them in the refrigerator and let them rise overnight for easy prep.
- An Easter classic. Hot cross buns are a go-to recipe for the Easter holiday. They pair well with all the traditional Easter dishes.
Ingredient Notes
- Bread flour: The protein content in bread flour will yield a softer roll. I prefer King Arthur Flour.
- Instant yeast: Make sure the yeast is not expired. You will need one packet.
- Milk: Whole milk is best since it makes a rich, tender texture. Warm it up to about 110 degrees F before using.
- Butter: Melt unsalted butter and let it cool slightly before adding to the dough.
- Orange zest: Use fresh orange zest to add a bright citrusy flavor to every bite.
- Spices: Check that your spices are fresh and not expired for the best flavor.
Refer to the recipe card for ingredient details and measurements.
How to Make Hot Cross Buns
- Make the dough: Whisk together dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients. Knead with a stand mixer for 5 minutes, then knead by hand a couple times until dough is soft and not sticky.
- First rise: Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let dough rise for 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size. Punch dough down and transfer to a lightly floured surface.
- Shape buns: Cut dough into quarters, then cut each quarter into thirds. Shape each dough piece into a bun by pinching the edges underneath the dough.
- Second rise: Place rolls in a 13×9 baking pan. Cover and let rolls rise for 30 minutes.
- Make crosses: Whisk together flour and water. Transfer to a ziplock bag and snip the corner. Pipe crosses on top of risen rolls.
- Bake buns: Bake at 350 F for 22 to 24 minutes or until golden.
- Make glaze: Whisk together water and confectioners’ sugar. Use a pastry brush to add glaze to the rolls.
Expert Tips
Yeast: Instant yeast or active dry yeast may be used in this recipe. If using active dry yeast, whisk it together with the warm milk and sugar and let it rest for 5 minutes until foamy. If the mixture does not foam up, then the yeast is expired. If using instant yeast, this test is not necessary and the yeast may be immediately added to the dry ingredients.
Dough consistency: The dough should be soft and not sticky. If the dough is sticky, add more flour one tablespoon at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Too much flour will result in a tough dough and the buns won’t rise.
Weather: Humidity affects yeasted doughs significantly. In the winter, this recipe won’t need extra flour. If you are baking hot cross buns in a warmer, more humid climate, then you probably need up to 1/4 cup more flour to achieve a non-sticky dough.
Make Ahead Tips
Hot cross buns may be made the day before and stored in the refrigerator before baking. After shaping the dough into rolls and arranging them in the baking pan, cover the pan and store it in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. When ready to bake, remove the rolls from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature and rise (about 2 hours). Add crosses and bake according to instructions.
Hot cross buns can also be frozen and stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Shape the dough into buns, place in the pan, cover and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, allow rolls to defrost and rise at room temperature (about 4 hours). Add crosse and bake according to instructions.
Recipe FAQ
They are simply a mixture of flour and water piped on top of the rolls to look like a cross.
Yes, but make sure the yeast isn’t expired by doing a text. Whisk active dry yeast with warm water. If the mixture foams up then it is alive, if not, the yeast is dead and the recipe won’t work.
Yes, all purpose flour works in this recipe as well. However, the rolls will be softer and fluffier when bread flour is used.
Yes, but it will take some arm strength and about 10 minutes total kneading time.
More Easter Recipes
If you are planning a holiday menu, consider trying these recipes!
Did you love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below and if you REALLY loved it, consider leaving a comment further down the page.
Get the Recipe: Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients
Buns
- 4 ½ cups (562 g) bread flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast, (see notes for active dry yeast)
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, (caster sugar is better if you can find it)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon all spice
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) warm milk (whole or low-fat), about 110° F
- ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg,, lightly beaten
- 2 Tablespoons fresh orange zest
- 1 ¼ cup (175 g) raisins or dried currants
Crosses
- ½ cup (62 g) flour, (any kind of flour works)
- 5 Tbs (75 ml) warm water
Glaze
- ¼ cup (60 ml) warm water
- ¼ cup (30 g) confectioners' sugar
Instructions
Buns
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, instant yeast, sugar, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until combined. Add the warm milk, melted butter, egg, orange zest and raisins. Use the dough hook to knead the dough until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. The dough should be soft and not sticky. If necessary, add more flour one Tablespoon at a time until a soft texture is reached. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead a couple times until dough forms a soft ball.
- Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and allow dough to rise for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size. Punch the dough down and transfer to a floured surface.
- Use a pastry cutter to split dough into quarters and then cut each quarter into thirds (for a total of 12 rolls). Shape each piece of dough into a ball by pinching the edges of the dough underneath itself and using your hands to cup the dough into a ball.
- Place rolls in a 13×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Cover and allow rolls to rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350° F.
Crosses
- While the rolls rise, make the flour mixture for the crosses. Whisk together flour and water until it is smooth and runny. Transfer mixture to a plastic bag and snip the corner. Pipe mixture on top of risen rolls.
- Bake rolls at 350° F for 22 to 24 minutes or until golden on top. Allow buns to cool in the dish for at least 15 minutes before adding glaze.
Glaze
- Whisk warm water and confectioners' sugar together. Use a pastry brush to add glaze to the hot cross buns. Garnish with orange zest and serve.
