Could this be the best recipe for hot cross bun recipe of all time? (2024)

We tested three hot cross bun versions from three cookbooks, and combined them to create the best hot cross buns recipe of all time.

Feb 21, 2024 5:29am

By Lisa Featherby

  • 20 mins preparation
  • 30 mins cooking
  • Makes 12
  • Could this be the best recipe for hot cross bun recipe of all time? (1)

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There's something inherently comforting about the smell of freshly baked hot cross buns come Easter. Perhaps it's the nostalgic scent of rising dough, the festive aroma of warm spices, or even the sweet perfume of orange and sugar bubbling away atop a kitchen stove for the glaze.

Straight from the oven or lightly toasted, these fruit-studded hot cross buns are a Good Friday breakfast ritual, one dating back more than 700 years. But which ingredients and methods produce the best hot cross bun? Knead or press? Does fresh or dried yeast work best? Caster or brown sugar? How sticky should the glaze be? We tested three recipes, then combined them to create our ultimate hot cross buns recipe.

ELIZABETH DAVID'S HOT CROSS BUNS RECIPE

Elizabeth David has explored the history of hot cross buns throughout her food literature. Her version calls for fresh yeast and strong baker's flour, with the addition of eggs, milk, light brown sugar and softened butter. The dough is flavoured with mixed spice and currants, rested for 2 hours, then rolled and proved again in bun tins (we used a muffin tin). David cuts the cross into the dough rather than making a paste, and uses a simple glaze of equal quantities milk and caster sugar.

The verdict:
The result is an old-school style of English hot cross bun with subtle spice levels, a golden outer crust and a light, yet slightly dry crumb. This is a fairly easy classic hot cross buns recipe.

NATALIE PAULL'S HOT CROSS BUNS RECIPE

The hot cross buns recipe in this book from Melbourne baker Natalie Paull of Beatrix bakery stars orange strongly. Currants and sultanas are soaked in the juice of an orange, while the flesh from a second fruit is blended to a pulp and added to the dough, its zest flavouring the hot cross bun glaze. The dough also calls for plain flour, caster sugar, milk, "soft and squidgy" butter and fresh yeast (no eggs).

The verdict:
Overall, these hot cross buns are dense and doughy, and although cooked through, have a raw consistency (we even tried a batch with an extra 15-minute cook time). However, the hot cross bun texture does improve slightly as they cool. The inclusion of a whole, puréed orange in the dough is an inspired idea, but may contribute to the hot cross bun's density.

NADINE INGRAM'S HOT CROSS BUNS RECIPE

Ingram's hot cross bun dough uses softened butter, like the other recipes, with strong baker's flour, brown sugar, milk and one egg, and the choice of either fresh or dried yeast (we used dried). The spice blend consists of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves. A fruit mixture of sultanas, currants and raisins are hydrated in boiling water, and there is the addition of candied orange peel, too. The hot cross buns are piped with a flour-oil paste flavoured with orange-blossom water and nutmeg, while the glaze is simple: caster sugar, water and orange zest.

The verdict:
It's a big call, but this is pretty close to being the perfect hot cross buns recipe. The dough is consistent throughout, its soft, pillowy texture is studded with plump, juicy fruit and pieces of zesty peel.

GT’s ULTIMATE HOT CROSS BUN RECIPE

This recipe combines everything we loved from the three tested hot cross buns recipes, plus a few GT tweaks. We started with Nadine Ingram's base, and from Natalie Paull's recipe we borrowed the idea of soaking the dried fruit in orange juice and added a splash of Pedro Ximénez. For the best spice flavour, dry-roast whole spices and grind them yourself. The cross is slightly thicker than any we tested, and our glaze has the addition of vanilla. And voilá, that's how we created our best hot cross buns recipe.

Start this recipe one day ahead to soak the dried fruit.

Want more hot cross bun recipes?

Ingredients

  • 100 gm currants
  • 100 gm sultanas
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • 40 ml Pedro Ximénez
  • 50 gm candied orange peel, finely chopped
  • 200 ml milk
  • 3 tsp dried yeast
  • 470 gm strong baker's flour
  • 2½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¾ tsp ground allspice
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 60 gm light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 60 gm softened unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
  • Finely grated zest of ½ orange
  • 1 tsp sunflower oil

Glaze

  • 150 gm (⅔ cup) caster sugar
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • Scraped seeds from ½ vanilla bean

Method

  • 1

    Combine currants and sultanas in a bowl with orange juice and Pedro Ximénez, then cover and soak overnight. Stir through candied peel and set aside.

  • 2

    Warm half the milk in a saucepan over low heat until just lukewarm, then combine with yeast in a bowl and stir to combine.

  • 3

    Place 420gm flour, combined spices (reserve ¼ tsp spice mixture), sugar, egg, yeast mixture, remaining milk and ¾ tsp salt in an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook and mix
    on low speed until combined (5 minutes). Add butter, zest and oil and mix until combined. Drain soaked fruit (reserve liquid). Stir fruit through dough just until incorporated. Place dough in a bowl lightly greased with butter. Cover and set aside to prove until dough has doubled in size (2 hours).

  • 4

    Line a baking tray with baking paper. Knock back dough, divide into 12 pieces, then roll each into a smooth ball, dusting with a little flour if needed to prevent dough sticking (do not add too much as dough will become tough). Place buns on tray in even rows, leaving a 2cm gap. Set aside to prove until doubled in size (30-40 minutes).

  • 5

    Preheat oven to 180°C. Combine remaining flour and reserved spice mixture in a small bowl with 40ml water and mix to a paste. Transfer paste to a piping bag, snip the end and pipe crosses over buns. Bake until golden and cooked
    through (25-30 minutes).

  • 6

    For glaze, combine ingredients and 1-2 tbsp reserved fruit liquid in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and a syrup forms (2-3 minutes). While buns are hot, brush syrup over liberally, then set aside to cool slightly. Serve hot cross buns warm or at room temperature.

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Could this be the best recipe for hot cross bun recipe of all time? (2024)

FAQs

What does a traditional hot cross bun contain? ›

They're yeasted sweet buns filled with spices and various fruits such as currants, raisins, and/or candied citrus. They're decorated with a white cross representing the crucifix, either marked right into the dough or etched on top with icing. Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter food, typically eaten on Good Friday.

What is the hot cross bun method? ›

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy “Hot Cross Bun”

A CBT “hot cross bun” is used to separate out our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical symptoms towards a stimuli/ event e.g. a loss, whilst considering how they may be related.

What is the history of the hot cross bun? ›

History. The Greeks in the 6th century AD may have marked cakes with a cross. In the Christian tradition, the making of buns with a cross on them and consuming them after breaking the fast on Good Friday, along with "crying about 'Hot cross buns'", is done in order to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.

How do you spice up hot cross buns? ›

Goat's cheese, fig and rosemary

2. Halve and toast the hot cross bun and spread both sides with goat's cheese. Add the fresh fig or spoon over the dried figs. Drizzle the fresh fig with honey or the dried fig with some of the syrup and add some finely chopped fresh rosemary.

How unhealthy are hot cross buns? ›

Hot cross buns contain a little fat from butter/shortening (around 5%) and are high in carbohydrate so consideration is needed around portion size for people with diabetes. Hot cross bun sizes vary a lot. For example, one commercial variety sold in a 6 pack contains 40g carbohydrate and 920 kJ (220 calories).

What makes hot cross buns special? ›

They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died. The spices in hot cross buns are said to represent the spices that were used to embalm Christ after his death.

Can Muslims eat hot cross buns? ›

Your hot cross buns are made entirely out of vegetable products so there's no need for anyone to pray over the batter while the baker stirs in currants and citrus peel. The stamp on the package simply signals to Muslims that it's okay to eat those buns — not that someone prayed over them.

What is the white on hot cross buns? ›

The white topping on hot cross buns is typically a mixture of flour, water, and sugar. This simple yet versatile combination is known as a “cross paste” and is piped onto the buns before baking. Once the buns are in the oven, the paste sets and forms the iconic cross shape that gives these treats their name.

What day do you 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.

Why are hot cross buns called hot? ›

The cross is usually piped using a flour and water paste but can also be made from shortcrust pastry. 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.

Can you buy hot cross buns all year round? ›

Hot cross buns are a popular British staple, so it's no surprise that you can find them in most supermarkets all year round. However, the spiced sweet bun particularly comes into its own in the lead up to Easter - and often gets a makeover or two, as well.

What is the pagan origin of hot cross buns? ›

Pagans worshipped Eostre, the goddess of dawn and spring. As spring arrived, the pagans would celebrate a month long festival of the transitioning time from winter entering into spring. This festival saw the Saxons making buns marked with a cross, which represented the four phases of the moon, to offer to the goddess.

Can you eat hot cross buns out of date? ›

Within reason, provided the food looks and smells as you would expect, it should be safe to eat, even if the 'best-before' date has passed. Keep an eye on the 'use-by' or 'best-before' dates on the food in your cupboards. Don't eat any food that is past its 'use-by' date, even if it looks and smells okay.

Why do my hot cross buns go hard? ›

There could be a number of reasons why your hot cross buns turn out heavy or even hard. The most common reasons are as follows: Over kneading – this is more likely to happen if you use an electric mixer and dough hook. If you over knead dough it will break down the glutens and make the buns hard.

Can you eat hot cross buns without toasting them? ›

Toasting your HCB is the correct way. Microwaving your HCB is for psychos. While yes, they sort of resemble fruit toast, HCBs have embellishments that you don't find in fruit toast, e.g. the cross and the fancy glaze. Toasting gives a nice, firm, crunchy surface for optimal butter spreading.

Do traditional hot cross buns have fruit? ›

What goes into a traditional hot cross bun recipe? At their most basic, hot cross buns are just yeasted sweet bread rolls that are spiked with dried fruit and warm spices like cinnamon, allspice or cardamom, giving them a slightly greyish appearance.

Are traditional 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.

Are traditional hot cross buns vegan? ›

The soft, lightly spiced fruity buns are the ultimate Easter food here in the UK but traditionally they aren't vegan friendly as they contain milk, butter and egg.

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