Hot Cross Buns Recipes > Reviews (1)

As Easter is vastly approaching I thought it would be a nice idea to list a recipe for hot cross buns. I've never really been a fan of shop-brought buns as they seem to be too sickly or contain way too much bun spice leaving a horrid taste in your mouth.

I don't make them very often, maybe a few times a year, but you can't beat home made hot cross buns! They always go down well any time of the day with a nice cup of tea.

Ingredients
(Makes around 8 buns)

500g strong white bread flour
½ tsp salt
2 heaped tsp mixed spice
50g caster sugar
50g butter, soften and cut into cubes
200g mixed dried fruits
7g sachet easy-blend dried yeast
200ml milk
2 eggs

For the glaze:
3 tbsp plain flour
honey or golden syrup, for brushing

1 - Into a large bowl add the flour, salt, sugar and mixed spice. Stir with a spoon to combine together, add your butter. Use your finger tips to blend the butter into the ingredients so far.

2 - Put your fruit into the bowl also adding the yeast and stir well. Warm your milk in a microwave or saucepan (I found it easier in to the microwave) Beat the eggs into your milk then add all to your mixture, do this bit quickly as you don't want scrambled eggs!

3 - Mix all your ingredients into a dough (will still be a little sticky). Leave your mixture to relax for 5-10 minutes. When your dough is relaxed cut your dough into 8 pieces, trying to keep them as equal as you can.

4 - Shape your dough into buns and place on a non-stick grease proof sheet on a baking tray (you will need two trays four buns on each), make sure you leave room for them to space out. Cover with cling film and store in a warm place until they have doubled in size, which can take up to one hour (I use my airing cupboard)

5 - When your buns have risen, pre-heat the oven at 200c a little less for fan assisted. In another bowl add the flour with 2 tbsp of water to make a paste, place in a piping bag and pipe a cross on to each of the hot cross buns.

6 - Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden once cooked use a clean brush and brush over some honey or golden syrup.

These are lovely warm and fresh out of the oven with a little butter, or if you have some left over the next day - toasted with some cream and fruit, or even chocolate spread!

I know it easy to just go buy some ready made buns, but they will never taste as good as homemade. Give this a try and you shall see!!

Hope you'll enjoy and thanks for reading