Hot Cross Buns
Recipe video above. Fluffy, perfectly spiced homemade Hot Cross Buns! Watch video to see the dough before and after kneading, and how I roll the balls to get nice smooth golden tops. Also, see below for the NO KNEAD version!
- Prep time
- 25 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 12 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 3 teaspoons instant or rapid rise yeast (9 grams) (, Note 1, CHECK still active!)
- 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) milk, warm (, full fat or low fat (Note 2))
- 4 1/4 cups (640g) bread flour (or plain / all purpose) ((Note 3))
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 tsp All Spice (OR Mixed Spice (Note 4))
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups (210g) sultanas ((Note 4))
- 1 - 2 oranges, zest only ((Note 4))
- 50g / 3.5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 egg (, at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup (35g) Extra bread flour
- 1/2 cup (75g) flour ((any white flour))
- 5 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp apricot jam ((Note 7))
- 2 tsp water
Instructions
- 1
Mix dry - Place flour, yeast, sugar, all spice, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Briefly mix with stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
- 2
Add wet - Add butter, milk, egg, sultanas and zest.
- 3
Standmixer: Mix for 5 minutes until a smooth elastic dough forms. Start on speed 2 then once the ingredients are combined, increase to speed 4. After 1 minute, add extra flour if required, just enough so dough comes away from side of bowl when mixing and doesn't stick terribly to your fingers. (Note 5).
- 4
Hand kneading: Alternatively, dust a work surface with flour and knead by hand for 10 minutes.
- 5
Dough is kneaded enough when it's smooth and does not break when stretched - see photos & video for before/after comparison.
- 6
Rise #1:
- 7
Forming Balls (watch video, it's helpful):
- 8
Rise # 2:
- 9
Crosses:
- 10
Baking/Glaze: