This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.
Hot Cross Buns are the perfect addition to your Easter celebration. They are soft and tender, lightly spiced with cinnamon, lemon, orange and filled with sweet craisins.
A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet yeast roll made with currants or raisins and marked with a cross on the top. The cross is either made with frosting or additional dough. They are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. They are often served for Easter brunch or dinner.
The sweetened dough that is lightly spiced with cinnamon along with the addition of lemon and orange zest. That and the addition of dried cranberries makes for a delicious and flavorful bun.
Ingredients Needed
- All Purpose Flour
- Sugar, granulated and powdered sugar
- Milk, 2% or whole
- Butter
- Eggs
- Active Dry Yeast
- Lemon Zest
- Orange, juice and zest
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Dried Cranberries
How to Make Hot Cross Buns
- Place yeast into warmed milk and allow to proof, about 5 minutes.
- Mix together butter, sugar, slat, egg, egg white, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon and flour in a stand mixer.
- Add in yeast mixture and combine.
- Knead until dough is soft, about 5 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl and allow to rise until double, 40-60 minutes.
- Punch down dough and place on a floured surface.
- Divide into twelve equal pieces and form into balls.
- Place dough onto a greased baking sheet and cover. Allow to rise until rolls are doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Mix together egg yolk and and water and brush over the top of rolls.
- Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until rolls are cooked through and golden brown.
- Allow rolls to cool completely.
- Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, orange juice, and lemon zest until you have a nice piping consistency.
- Place frosting into a zip lock bag and clip off a corner of bag.
- Pipe crosses onto rolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze Hot Cross Buns?
It is very easy to freeze hot cross buns. Bake them but do not frost them. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap then foil. When ready to serve, allow rolls to thaw for several hours at room temperature and then rewarm them in the oven at 300 degrees F for about 5 minutes. Add frosting before serving.
Some other favorite Easter recipes:
Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk warmed to 110 degrees F
- 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
- 3 Tbsp butter softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup craisins
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 Tbsp water
Frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp orange juice
- 2 tsp milk
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Place yeast into warmed milk and allow to proof, about 5 minutes.
- In your stand mixer, mix together butter, sugar, slat, egg, egg white, lemon zest, orange zest, cinnamon and flour.
- Add in yeast mixture, mix and knead for about 5 minutes until dough is soft.
- Place in a greased bowl and allow to rise until double, 40-60 minutes.
- Punch down dough and place on a floured surface. Divide into twelve balls.
- Place dough onto a greased baking sheet and cover. Allow to rise until rolls are doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Mix together egg yolk and and water and brush over the top of rolls. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until rolls are cooked through and golden brown.
- Allow rolls to cool and then add crosses with frosting.
- Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, orange juice, and lemon zest until you have a nice piping consistency. Place frosting into a zip lock bag and clip off a corner of bag. Pipe crosses onto rolls.
Nutrition Facts:
Leave a Review