The Best Hot Cross Buns Recipe for Sweet Easter Treats

Hot cross buns have been a cherished springtime delicacy that brings warmth and comfort to many tables.

Soft, fragrant, and lightly spiced, these traditional treats carry centuries of cultural significance.

Bakers across generations have perfected their unique techniques for creating these delectable pastries.

Warm kitchens filled with sweet aromas promise a delightful baking experience that connects you to time-honored culinary traditions.

Currants and candied fruit nestled within tender dough create a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

Subtle hints of cinnamon and nutmeg dance through each carefully crafted bite.

You can master this classic recipe and impress everyone with your baking skills, making memories that will last well beyond the holiday season.

Why Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns Are A Must Try

• Boost Family Bonding: Create delightful memories while baking these traditional treats together, perfect for involving kids in kitchen adventures.
• Master Baking Skills: Learn essential bread-making techniques like kneading, proofing, and shaping that build confidence for future culinary explorations.
• Celebrate Seasonal Tradition: Embrace a classic Easter recipe that connects generations through its rich cultural heritage and comforting flavors.
• Quick Weekend Baking: Enjoy a straightforward recipe that transforms simple ingredients into delicious homemade buns without overwhelming complexity.

What Ingredients Are In Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns

• Flour: The foundation of the hot cross buns that provides structure and texture.
• Yeast: A crucial ingredient that helps the dough rise and creates a light, fluffy texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with the browning of the buns.

• Cinnamon, Mixed Spice: Provide warm, aromatic flavors that are traditional in hot cross buns.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Milk, Butter, Egg: Contribute to the rich, tender crumb of the buns.
• Zest: Adds a bright, citrusy note to the flavor profile.
• Sultanas: Bring natural sweetness and a chewy texture to the buns.

• Flour, Water: Used to create the signature cross paste on top of the buns.
• Apricot Jam: Provides a shiny, sweet glaze that adds extra flavor and appearance.

Steps To Make Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns Easily

Step 1: Activate Dry Ingredients

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the flour, instant yeast, granulated sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, and mixed spices. Whisk these dry ingredients together until they’re evenly distributed, creating a fragrant and promising base for your buns.

Step 2: Create Dough Mixture

Pour in warm milk, softened butter, a beaten egg, fresh orange or lemon zest, and plump sultanas (or raisins).

• Warm milk
• Softened butter
• Beaten egg
• Citrus zest
• Sultanas

Stir everything together until a shaggy, sticky dough starts to form.

Step 3: Knead and Develop Texture

Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Begin kneading with confident, rhythmic motions. Push, fold, and turn the dough for about 10 minutes. The goal is a smooth, elastic dough that springs back when touched.

Step 4: First Fermentation

Place the kneaded dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let it rest in a warm, draft-free spot until the dough doubles in size, typically around 1-1.5 hours.

Step 5: Shape Beautiful Buns

Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece into a smooth ball, creating perfect round shapes.

Step 6: Second Rise

Arrange the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving slight gaps between them. Cover again and let them rise until they look puffy and have expanded, about 30-45 minutes.

Step 7: Prepare Cross Decoration

Mix flour and water to create a smooth, pipeable paste for the traditional cross design. Transfer the paste to a piping bag or zip-lock bag with a corner snipped off.

Step 8: Add Crosses and Bake

Carefully pipe crosses over each bun. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C). Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.

Step 9: Final Glaze

Immediately after removing from the oven, brush the hot buns with warmed apricot jam. This adds a beautiful shine and extra touch of sweetness.

Top Tips For Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns Success

• Master the Flour: Use strong bread flour for the best texture and rise, ensuring your buns are soft and fluffy.
• Sultana Success: Soak dried fruit in warm water or tea beforehand to prevent burning and add extra moisture to the buns.
• Proofing Perfection: Proof in a warm, draft-free area like a turned-off oven with a pan of hot water to help dough rise evenly.
• Cross Creation: For neat piping, transfer flour paste to a piping bag with a small round tip for precise, smooth crosses.
• Glaze Greatness: Brush warm apricot jam immediately after baking for a shiny, professional-looking finish that adds subtle sweetness.

Tasty Twists On Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns

• Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns: Replace wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend, use xanthan gum for binding, and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Vegan Hot Cross Buns: Substitute dairy milk with almond milk, use coconut oil instead of butter, replace egg with flaxseed mixture, and choose plant-based butter for glaze.
• Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns: Swap sultanas with dark chocolate chips, add cocoa powder to dough for extra chocolate flavor, and sprinkle chocolate shavings on top.
• Low-Sugar Hot Cross Buns: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, reduce overall sweetness, and add extra spices like nutmeg for depth of flavor.

Perfect Pairings For Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns

• Flavor Harmony with Beverages: Pair hot cross buns with warm chai tea for a spicy, comforting blend that enhances the bun's cinnamon and mixed spice notes.
• Complementary Wine Selection: Choose a sweet Moscato or Riesling wine to balance the buns' subtle sweetness and rich fruity sultanas.
• Perfect Spread Companion: Serve with clotted cream or salted butter to add creamy richness that softens the buns' warm spice profile.
• Morning Beverage Match: Enjoy with a classic cappuccino or strong black coffee to cut through the buns' sweetness and provide a robust contrast.

How To Store Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns Properly

• Store in airtight container for 2-3 days, keeping freshness intact. Wrap individually in plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
• Place buns in freezer-safe bag, removing excess air. Can be frozen up to 3 months. Wrap each bun separately for easier individual thawing.
• Warm individual bun for 15-20 seconds. Sprinkle few drops of water to maintain moisture and prevent hardening.
• Preheat oven to 150C (300F). Wrap buns in foil, heat for 5-7 minutes. Unwrap last 2 minutes to restore slight crispness on outside.

Your Questions On Delia Smith Hot Cross Buns Answered

• What makes hot cross buns traditional?

Hot cross buns originated in England and are typically eaten during Easter, symbolizing the end of Lent with their distinctive cross representing Christian faith.

• Are hot cross buns sweet or savory?

They are slightly sweet bread rolls with warm spices like cinnamon and mixed spice, featuring dried fruits like sultanas that give them a delightful flavor profile.

• Can I make hot cross buns without dried fruit?

Yes, you can substitute sultanas with other dried fruits like currants, raisins, or even skip the fruit entirely for a plain version of the bun.

• Why do bakers pipe a cross on top?

The cross is a traditional religious symbol representing Christ’s crucifixion, and it’s typically made from a simple flour and water paste before baking.

Hot Cross Buns Recipe

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4.8 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: Approximately 2 hours (including proofing times)
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Delightful hot cross buns deliver a classic Easter treat with sweet spices and tender crumb. Homemade comfort rises from traditional British bakeries, promising warm memories and festive flavor you’ll savor with each delicious bite.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 640 grams (22.6 ounces) bread flour
• 375 milliliters (12.7 fluid ounces) warm full-fat milk
• 210 grams (7.4 ounces) sultanas
• 1 egg, room temperature

Spices and Flavor Enhancers:

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons mixed spice
• 12 teaspoon salt
• Zest of 1/2 orange

Additional Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons instant yeast
• 110 grams (3.9 ounces) caster sugar
• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
• 75 grams (2.6 ounces) plain flour
• 1/4 cup (35 grams or 1.2 ounces) extra bread flour
• 5 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon apricot jam
• 2 teaspoons water

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Instructions

1. Combine dry ingredients including flour, yeast, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and mixed spice in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform base for the dough.
2. Incorporate wet ingredients such as milk, softened butter, beaten egg, and citrus zest into the dry mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
3. Gently fold in sultanas, ensuring even distribution throughout the developing dough.
4. Transfer dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 10 minutes until achieving a smooth, elastic consistency.
5. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and allow to rise in a warm environment for approximately 1 hour or until volume doubles.
6. Punch down the risen dough and divide into 12 equal portions, shaping each into a round ball.
7. Arrange balls on a lined baking tray, leaving slight spacing between each bun.
8. Cover and let buns prove for an additional 30 minutes until they appear puffy and slightly expanded.
9. Prepare a simple flour paste by mixing flour and water, then pipe distinctive crosses over the risen buns.
10. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake buns for 22 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
11. Remove from oven and immediately brush with warm apricot jam for a glossy, sweet finish.

Notes

• Enhance yeast activation by warming milk slightly, ensuring it’s tepid to promote better rising without killing the yeast.
• Soak sultanas in warm water or rum beforehand to prevent them from drawing moisture from the dough and ensure plump, juicy fruit.
• Create a consistent dough texture by kneading thoroughly, developing gluten strands that contribute to a soft, pillowy bun structure.
• Customize flavor profiles by substituting sultanas with dried cranberries, chopped apricots, or dark chocolate chips for unique variations.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes (including mixing, kneading, shaping, and preparation)
• Cook Time: 22 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 214 kcal
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg