Hi! Looking for a fun and tasty baking project to try at home? Hot cross buns are a classic snack perfect for Easter or any time of the year. They are soft, slightly sweet and studded with raisins or currants, and the cross on top makes them instantly recognizable. What's more, making them yourself means you can customize the recipe to your taste and skip a trip to the grocery store.
Making hot cross rolls may seem intimidating, but it's actually quite possible with a little patience and practice. The dough is a simple yeast bread dough, which means it needs time to rise and rise. You'll also need a few ingredients that you may not have on hand, such as bread flour and instant yeast, but are readily available at most grocery stores or online. The end result is a delicious, homemade feast that you can share with loved ones or enjoy on your own. So let's get started!
Making Hot Cross Buns: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hot cross buns are a delicious and festive snack that can be enjoyed all year round. They are traditionally eaten on Good Friday to symbolize the cross, but are a firm favorite for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
If you've never made hot cross rolls before, don't worry! Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own delicious bagels from scratch.
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ingredients
Before you start, gather all the necessary ingredients. For 12-15 rolls you will need:
- 500 g strong bread flour
- 75 g of flower honey
- 2 teaspoons of dried yeast
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 50 g butter, melted
- 200 ml of warm milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 75 grams of ribs
- 50 g of mixed crust
- Peel of 1 orange
- For the cross noodles: 75 g flour, 2 tablespoons water and a pinch of salt.
- For the topping: 3 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of water.
Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the melted butter and gradually add the warm milk until a soft and sticky dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic. This should take about 10 minutes.
- Put the dough back into the bowl and add the currants, grated zest and orange zest. Be sure to distribute the fruit evenly in the dough.
- Cover the bowl with cling film and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Grease a baking sheet with butter and preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.
- Divide the risen dough into twelve to fifteen equal pieces and shape them into balls.
- Place the dough balls on the baking sheet, leaving enough space between them for them to rise.
- Mix the flour, water and salt into a cross paste. Pour the paste into a pastry bag and place a cross on each bun.
- Bake the buns in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Mix the sugar and water for the topping in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Brush the hot rolls with the glaze and leave to cool on a wire rack.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some tips for making your hot cross rolls perfect:
- Use high-quality ingredients to enhance the taste of your rolls.
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, otherwise the buns will be hard and dense.
- Leave enough space between the buns when you place them on the baking sheet for them to rise.
- For a shinier glaze, add an extra tablespoon of sugar to the mix.
- Experiment with different spices or fillings for a unique flavor.
Application
Now you know how to make hot cross rolls from scratch! Whether for Easter or a cozy breakfast in bed, this delicious recipe is sure to impress. With a little patience and love, you'll have decadent buns in no time.
Collecting ingredients
Now that you know a bit about the background of hot cross rolls, let's get down to the recipe itself. Here's what you need to gather before you start:
1. Mel
2. Yesterday
3. Sun
4. Sugar
5. Cinnamon
6. Nutmeg
7. All hands
8. Butter
9. Eggs
10. Raisins or currants
11. Milk
12. Orange peel
Choose your ingredients
Before you start, it's important to remember that the quality of your ingredients will have a huge impact on the final product. It is worth investing in good quality raisins or currants, fresh yeast and high-quality flour. Don't skimp on the butter either, as it gives the buns a full flavor.
Measuring and preparing ingredients
Before you start, measure all the ingredients. Preheat oven to 375 F and prepare a large mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and let it come to room temperature. Heat the milk until lukewarm, about 100 to 110 F.
Yeast activation
In a small bowl, mix yeast, sugar and warmed milk. Mix well and set aside for about 5 minutes. The yeast should begin to bubble and foam, indicating it is activated and ready to use.
Mixing the ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and orange zest. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs together until well beaten. Add the egg mixture, activated yeast mixture and room temperature butter to the flour mixture.
Kneading the dough
Use a mixer with a yeast dough hook and knead the dough on low speed for approx. 5 minutes. If you don't have a mixer, you can knead by hand for about 8-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Adding raisins or currants
After kneading the dough, add the raisins or currants and mix until they are evenly distributed in the dough.
Let the dough rise
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth or cling film. Leave in a warm place for about an hour or until the dough doubles in size.
Forming the dough
When the dough has risen, cool it slightly and knead it briefly. Divide the dough into small balls and make round ones out of them.
Adding crosses
Place the buns on the baking sheet and use a pastry bag or knife to make crosses on top of each bun.
Baking rolls
Bake the buns for about 15 to 20 minutes or until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Brush them with melted butter while they are still warm and enjoy!
Ingredients needed to make hot cross rolls
Preparing hot cross rolls requires specific ingredients that are readily available at your local grocery store. In this section, we'll walk you through the ingredients needed to make hot cross rolls. They include:
| ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Flour for all purposes | 4 cups |
| Sugar | 1/3 kop |
| Active dry yeast | 1 package |
| Sun | 1 tk |
| cinnamon powder | 1 tk |
| Nutmeg | 1/2 tk |
| milk | 1 kop |
| Unsalted butter | 1/2 kop |
| egg | 1 |
| Vanilla extract | 2 tk |
| Dried currants | 1 kop |
| Orange peel | 2 tablespoons |
Flour for all purposes
The first and most important ingredient needed to make hot cross rolls is all-purpose flour. It is a versatile flour that is used in most baking recipes, and in this case it is the primary ingredient for making rolls. When buying flour, make sure it is fresh and has not passed its use-by date, as this can affect the quality of the rolls.
Yesterday
Then you need to get active dry yeast. Yeast is essential as it helps the dough to rise, giving the rolls a unique texture. Make sure the selected yeast is fresh and not expired. Alternatively, if you are using instant yeast, you can use a little less than the required amount of active dry yeast.
Milk and butter
Milk and unsalted butter are other important ingredients for making hot cross rolls. Make sure the milk you use is fresh and has not passed its expiration date. You can use any type of milk - full-fat, low-fat or skimmed, depending on your preference. Unsalted butter improves the filling and taste of the rolls and gives them a soft and delicate texture.
ribs
Currants are small, dark, dried fruits that give rolls a sweet taste and unique texture. Currants are an important ingredient in making traditional hot rolls, giving them a chewy texture and sweetness.
Orange peel
Orange zest is an optional ingredient that gives warm cross rolls a sour and refreshing flavor. The orange peel adds a citrus flavor to the buns and makes them taste even tastier. Be sure to use a fresh and juicy orange for best results.
All in all, the ingredients needed to make hot cross rolls can be easily found at your local grocery store, and this recipe will only take you a few hours to prepare. Once you have all the ingredients, you're ready to make the bun dough. In the next section, you will learn how to make hot cross bun dough.
Happy baking!
Now that you know how to make hot cross rolls, put on your apron and get started. Trust us, the rewards will be worth it! We hope you found our tips useful and you enjoyed baking these delicious rolls. Thanks for reading and we can't wait for you to come back for more exciting recipes! Don't forget to share your baking photos with us and enjoy your baking!
FAQs
What temperature do you heat hot cross buns? ›
Hot Cross Buns Warming & Toasting Instructions
c -350. f for 5-6 minutes or until nicely toasted. They can also be placed under the grill or broiler and eaten at room temperature.
Bake The Hot Cross Buns
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). One the buns have risen again, transfer the baking pan to the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked. Once cool, brush the rolls immediately with the glaze after they come out of the oven.
You must slice it open before you microwave it, otherwise you'll almost certainly burn your fingers. Once it comes out of the microwave (I usually give it 20 to 25 seconds), sit a pat of butter in the centre and let it soften for a couple of seconds before spreading.
What temperature is best for baking buns? ›Adjust oven rack to a lower position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). (It's best to bake the rolls towards the bottom of the oven so the tops don't burn.) Bake the rolls: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top, rotating the pan halfway through.
What is the best temperature to toast buns? ›Gently toast in a 350°F oven until buns are warmed through and lightly crispy, about 5 minutes. To keep the buns from getting too crunchy or hard after toasting, place them in a nice basket with a towel over them or wrap them in tinfoil; you can toast 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time.
Why are my hot cross buns so hard? ›If the dough is too dry, the buns will end up being tough. You may need to add a little extra liquid or flour depending on the protein content in the flour.
Why are my hot cross buns so dense? ›Why are my hot cross buns dense? Flour contains gluten, which stretches as you knead it. The dough needs to be kneaded for a sufficient time (around 10 minutes) to make the dough elastic and give structure to the buns. If the gluten in the dough is not worked enough, the buns can be a little dense or hard.
What temperature do you cook buns in an electric oven? ›Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
Why were hot cross buns banned? ›For example, in 1582 London, cross buns were temporarily banned because they were believed to have supernatural qualities, along the lines of warding off evil and curing illnesses. 10 years later, Queen Elizabeth had banned them entirely, unless for funerals and, of course, Good Friday.
How do you warm buns without drying them out? ›It would be best to reheat the oven, but this time put it at 250-degrees F or 300-degrees F. Instead of wrapping it with a damp towel, sprinkle some water on top of the bread. Please note that you should not soak the bread. Just sprinkle enough water to make the top slightly damp.
How do you heat store bought buns? ›
Warm rolls are always the best and your leftovers don't have to be eaten cold! Simply wrap rolls in foil and place in a 350º oven for 5-7 minutes.
Do hot cross buns need to be heated? ›Do you warm up hot cross buns? If you using store-bought, I would definitely recommend heating them up before serving them. The easiest way is to toast them but you can also wrap them in foil and warm them up in the oven for a few minutes.
What can I glaze hot cross buns with? ›Finally, time to glaze the hot cross buns, we use 1 tablespoon maple syrup mixed with 2 teaspoon water. Use a brush to coat the glaze over the cooked hot cross buns.
Is it better to bake bread at 350 or 375? ›Bread baked with more than a ½ cup of sugar, tend to be baked at 350°F (177°C), while those that require less than a ½ cup of sugar typically bake higher, at around 375°F (191°C).
How long to heat buns at 350? ›Preheat oven to 350 F. Place rolls on a baking sheet or pan. Heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until warm.
How do you know if buns are baked? ›Take your loaf or rolls out of the oven (Carefully), turn them upside down and give the bottom a tap - it should sound hollow. You could use a thermometer to check the temperature of the centre of your loaf. If the temperature reads 190ºC to 200ºC your bread should be ready.
How do you toast buns like a restaurant? ›In a large skillet or on a griddle, warm butter on medium heat. Use a spatula to push butter to coat the pan. Place buns cut side down onto the buttered pan and cook for about 30 seconds until golden and toasted. Watch closely to ensure the buns don't get too browned, or they will no longer be soft on the outside.
Do you butter buns before toasting? ›Tip: For an easy flavor boost, spread about 1 tbsp (14.2 g) of butter or 1 tbsp (15 mL) of olive oil on each bun before you place them under the broiler. Broil the buns for 30 seconds or until they turn golden brown. Put the baking sheet in the oven or toaster oven and close the door.
Can you toast bread at 450? ›Heat the oven to 450 degrees, then arrange bread slices between every other bar of the upper rack, resting on the baking sheet. 4. Toast the bread until the top sides are lightly browned, about 6 minutes.
How do you keep your buns soft and warm? ›Steaming the buns makes them warm and soft, but steaming them too much makes them mushy and sticky. There are several ways to steam buns at home: 1) Start a little water boiling in a double boiler or Chinese bamboo steamer and put the buns in for about 20 seconds. That's all they need.
How can I make my buns softer? ›
If you just want soft bread, I'd add some butter, an egg, and some milk in place of some of your water and once cooked, paint the buns in melted butter.
Can you leave hot cross bun dough to rise overnight? ›Overnight Hot Cross Buns How-To
Let it rise: Create a warm place for your dough to rise (see recipe for notes); then let it rise for two hours. Divide and shape: Portion the dough into 16 pieces; roll into balls, transfer to a buttered baking dish. Transfer pan to the refrigerator and let the buns rise overnight.
Use a Dough Enhancer
Boost the fluffiness of your bread by using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten. All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result.
If your dinner rolls aren't fluffy it could be because of one of two reasons. Either, you added too much flour or you possibly used all bread flour. Alternately, not giving your dinner rolls enough time to proof and get puffy before baking could yield dense rolls.
What's the white stuff on hot cross buns? ›What is the White Stuff on Hot Cross Buns? The cross on hot cross buns is made of either a flour paste or a powdered sugar icing. For the flour paste, you pipe it on before the buns are baked. The powdered sugar icing is piped on after the buns are baked and cooled.
Which mode to bake buns? ›Bake the dough at 400 °F (204 °C) for 12-15 minutes in the oven. Let the oven preheat fully before putting the buns in the oven. Once the dough balls have risen, place the baking sheet in the oven and let them bake for 12-15 minutes or until the tops of the balls are a light golden brown.
How long to heat bread at 400? ›Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake loaves in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, about 35 minutes.
Do buns rise more in the oven? ›Sohla Makes Cinnamon-Date Sticky Buns
You want to put your dough into the oven when the yeast has expanded as much as it can (it will have one final “feeding frenzy” once it hits the oven's heat, at which point your dough will expand even more).
And here's the thing – you have a dietitian's word for it – hot cross buns are neither unhealthy nor healthy – they're neutral. They're just a food. And you only eat and enjoy them at one time of the year, so there's absolutely zero point feel guilty about sinking your teeth into the perfect bun.
Can Christians eat hot cross buns? ›HOT CROSS BUNS ON GOOD FRIDAY
In Ireland, the UK and as far abroad as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and India, Hot Cross Buns are eaten every Good Friday in Christian communities. They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified.
What are hot cross buns called in America? ›
In the lead up to Easter Sunday (Sunday, April 9, 2023), you'll be stoked to learn several bakeries in New York–and further afield–are offering delicious hot cross buns (also known as “Easter buns”). Our handy AWNY guide to find hot cross buns in New York has all the details for you.
Should you brush rolls with butter before baking? ›Butter basting: Rolls can be brushed with butter before, during, or after baking. While it doesn't brown the surface as much as egg wash will, it does promote browning and adds a lot of flavor.
Why are my homemade buns hard? ›Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.
Does refrigerating buns keep them fresh? ›Many believe that placing bread inside of a refrigerator will help it to stay fresher for longer. This actually has the opposite effect and the rolls or buns will dry at a faster rate than if they were left in a basket or container inside of foil or a bag.
How do you make buns taste fresh? ›As well as running it under the tap, you could also put a damp tea towel over your roll for a bit before popping it in the oven, or simply just wet your hands and rub them over the roll. You just need the moisture and the warmth to come together to bring your bread roll back to life.
How do you keep buns warm for a party? ›Place warmed heat source in bread basket: If using rice or pie weights, lay them as flat as possible in their paper or foil wrapper at the bottom of the bread basket. Cover the heat source with a clean cloth napkin or dish towel.
Why are they called hot cross buns? ›For Christians, the cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus. The spices inside the buns symbolise the spices put on the body of Jesus after he died. The buns are best served hot, hence how they received their name.
What time of day do you eat hot cross buns? ›The perfect bun should be toasted for a precise 62 seconds and slathered with butter. But you shouldn't have it at any time of the day, oh no. The optimum time to have a hot cross bun, apparently, is at 11am on the dot and it should be served with a cup of tea.
What time of year do you have hot cross buns? ›Most recipes call for raisins and cinnamon, but there are tons of variations out there. Traditionally, hot cross buns are associated with Easter—a Christian holiday and festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus—and eaten on Good Friday, or the Friday before Easter.
Do you glaze buns before baking? ›Glazing, washing and topping are often the final steps in bread making. They are usually applied to the dough before baking. But some recipes call for the glaze to be applied after the bread is baked.
Does butter go on hot cross buns? ›
Split the hot cross buns and toast them on each side, butter well. Put each bun toasted side up on a plate and spread with a little marmalade.
Do you butter hot cross buns? ›The traditional way to eat hot cross buns is fresh, toasted under the grill, or warmed in the oven, cut across its width and slathered with plenty of good quality butter.
How long to heat hot cross buns in oven? ›Hot Cross Buns Warming & Toasting Instructions
Alternatively, the buns can be warmed in the oven set at 180. c -350. f for 5-6 minutes or until nicely toasted. They can also be placed under the grill or broiler and eaten at room temperature.
If you love hot cross buns, you could justify eating a few extra ones by citing the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-tumour and anti-diabetes properties of spices such as cinnamon. But consider this: the average 80-gram hot cross bun contains 1,070 kilojoules.
Why do people like hot cross buns? ›Hot cross buns became commemorations of Good Friday, and across Christendom the cross came to represent the crucifixion and the spices symbolised those used to embalm Jesus at his burial. The bun had been blessed.
Do hot cross buns need toasting? ›Hot cross buns - to toast or not to toast? It's almost hot cross bun season and our taste test sessions have revealed a big divide between how people eat theirs! Most of us wouldn't even question not toasting them but 2 out of 6 of our taste testers prefer theirs not toasted.
How long to heat a bun? ›Wrap your bun loosely with a damp paper towel. Place your bun on a microwave-safe plate. Reheat for about 20 seconds until piping hot. Add slightly more time if necessary—but not too much or your bun will dry out.
Do you put hot cross buns in the microwave? ›By microwaving a hot cross bun, you get softer fruits, a tangier (but not harsh) hint of citrus and a bready quality that's similar to banana bread.
Why do my hot cross buns go hard? ›If the dough is too dry, the buns will end up being tough. You may need to add a little extra liquid or flour depending on the protein content in the flour.
Why are my hot cross buns dry? ›There can be a few different reasons why the crust could be hard, but often it comes from the oven being too hot. If you oven temperature is correct then this is less likely, though if it is a conventional oven then make sure you bake the buns on the middle shelf of the oven and not on a high shelf.
Do you put butter on hot cross buns? ›
Split the hot cross buns and toast them on each side, butter well. Put each bun toasted side up on a plate and spread with a little marmalade.
How do you toast perfect buns? ›In a large skillet or on a griddle, warm butter on medium heat. Use a spatula to push butter to coat the pan. Place buns cut side down onto the buttered pan and cook for about 30 seconds until golden and toasted. Watch closely to ensure the buns don't get too browned, or they will no longer be soft on the outside.
Are hot cross buns healthy? ›And here's the thing – you have a dietitian's word for it – hot cross buns are neither unhealthy nor healthy – they're neutral. They're just a food. And you only eat and enjoy them at one time of the year, so there's absolutely zero point feel guilty about sinking your teeth into the perfect bun.
Can you eat cold hot cross buns? ›One of the greatest things about the trusty hot cross bun is that you can enjoy them hot or cold and sweet or savoury.
How do you tell if a bun is done? ›Most loaves and rolls will indeed be done when they register 190°F at their center.
How do you know when a bun is baked? ›Look for edges that are pulling away from the sides of your pan, a golden color, and internal temperature of 190°. A crack running vertically in the middle of the bread is absolutely okay, but be sure it doesn't look too wet or runny inside.
Why do people eat hot cross buns? ›Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten over the Easter religious Christian holiday to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday on the cross.
Do you put jam on hot cross buns? ›The lovely shiny finish on Hot Cross Buns is simply a mix of heated apricot jam and a touch of water. Just microwave to heat, mix until smooth then lightly brush onto the surface. Substitute with other jams, or honey, maple syrup, golden syrup or other shiny syrups.