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Freshly baked easy hot cross buns with a golden glaze on a rustic wooden table, perfect for Easter celebration.
Alyssa

Easy Hot Cross Buns

Who doesn't love the smell of fresh hot cross buns wafting through the house on Easter weekend mornings? These hot cross buns are easy to make, require no special skills, and taste heavenly!
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rising Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 buns
Course: Breakfast, Desserts
Calories: 326
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 4 tsp active dried yeast
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 cups bread flour or plain flour
  • 1 tbsp mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sultanas or mixed fruit
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Method
 

  1. Combine warm milk, water, brown sugar and yeast in a mixing bowl and let it activate for 2 minutes.
    1/2 cup warm milk, 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp light brown sugar, 4 tsp active dried yeast, 1/3 cup butter, melted
  2. Mix melted butter, remaining brown sugar, egg, salt, cinnamon, mixed spice, vanilla, and sultanas. Combine with yeast mixture and add flour.
    1 egg, 1 tsp salt, 4 cups bread flour or plain flour, 1 tbsp mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup sultanas or mixed fruit
  3. Knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes or use a stand mixer.
  4. Shape the dough into balls and place in a greased dish. Let rise for 30-60 minutes.
  5. Mix flour and water for crosses. Preheat oven and pipe crosses onto risen buns.
    1/4 cup flour, 2 tbsp water
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes and glaze with maple syrup and water.
    1 tbsp water, 1 tbsp maple syrup
  7. Transfer buns to a cooling rack.

Notes

Perfect for Easter brunch!