Hot Cross Buns

4.6
(262)
217 Reviews
67 Photos

I love hot cross buns and look forward to making these fruity spiced buns every Easter! I like to make the dough in a bread machine, but I have included instructions at the end of this recipe for using a stand mixer.

Submitted by LITSTER5
Updated on March 21, 2025
67
A plate of freshly baked hot cross buns with icing.
67
67
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 hot cross buns
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • ¾ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

  • ¼ cup white sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 large egg, separated, divided

  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened

  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

  • 1 tablespoon instant powdered milk

  • ⅜ teaspoon salt

  • ¾ cup dried currants

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • ½ cup confectioners' sugar

  • 2 teaspoons milk

  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make hot cross buns

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Put flour, warm water, white sugar, egg, egg white, butter, yeast, milk powder, and salt in a bread maker and start on dough program.

    A bread maker with flour, water, sugar, egg, egg white, butter, yeast, milk powder, and salt

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. When 5 minutes of kneading are left, add currants and cinnamon. Leave in the machine until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

    A bread maker with currants and cinnamon added to dough

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Punch down dough on a floured surface, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.

    A ball of hot cross buns dough on a floured surface

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Shape into 12 even-sized balls and place in a greased 9x12-inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 35 to 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

    A pan with 12 risen pieces of dough

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Mix egg yolk with 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl; brush on dough. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.

    Baked hot cross buns on a wire cooling rack

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. To make the piping glaze: Mix confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla together until smooth. Spoon glaze into a piping bag or a sandwich bag with the corner snipped off; pipe a cross onto each roll.

    Iced hot cross buns on a wire cooling rack, with a piping bag of glaze

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Serve and enjoy!

    A plate of freshly baked hot cross buns with icing.

    Jen Causey / Food Stylist: Jewel Odum / Prop Stylist: Abigail Armstrong

Cook’s Note

To make the dough in a stand mixer: Combine warm water and yeast in the bowl of the mixer and let soften for about 5 minutes. Add flour, milk powder, 1/4 cup white sugar, egg, egg white, and salt. Mix, scraping the dough down occasionally, on low speed using the dough hook for 10 minutes. Add butter, currants, and cinnamon and mix for an additional 5 minutes. Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and allow it to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Proceed with step 4 of the recipe instructions.

454 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

217 Calories
4g Fat
41g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 217
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 109mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 154mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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