Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Every Easter celebration, one bread that you would find in most households is hot cross buns. This soft and yummy bread is so fluffy and delicious that you won’t be able to stop eating with just one piece. One of my favorite go-to recipes is by Bincy Chris on YouTube, it is very easy to follow and has a clear set of instructions. This recipe never fails to amaze and impress the whole family!

Ingredients:

Dough

• 2½ cups of all-purpose flour
• ½ cup + 2 tbsp of whole milk
• ¼ cup of granulated sugar
• 2 tsp of instant yeast or 2½ tsp of active dry yeast
• ½ tsp of cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp of ground allspice
• ¾ tsp of salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp of unsalted butter
• ¾ cup of raisins
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Zest of half an orange

Cross

• ½ cup of flour
• ½ cup to 2 tbsp of water

Glaze

• 2 tbsp of apricot jam
• 1 tbsp of warm water

Directions:

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients then set them aside. Then grab a separate bowl and combine the wet ingredients, set them aside as well. Pour the flour mixture into the egg mixture and mix them together until it turns into a shaggy mass of dough. Transfer the dough to a flat and clean surface, then start kneading the dough until soft, you can also do this in a stand mixer. Grab a large mixing bowl and add a small amount of oil before placing the dough inside it. Roll the dough around so that it gets covered with the oil, then cover it with a cling wrap, and let the dough sit at a warm temperature for about 1 to 1½ hours or until it doubles in size. Soak the raisins in water and drain them before adding them to the degassed and flattened dough, mix them together until the raisins are incorporated and evenly distributed.

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Step 2
Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces then shape them into round balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then loosely cover them with a cling wrap brushed with oil. Let the dough balls rise for around 45 minutes or until they double in size. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour and water until well combined and the consistency turns into a thick flour batter. Transfer it into a piping bag, then pipe the cross on top of the buns. Pop them in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F for the next 12 to 15 minutes. While the buns are baking, combine warm water with apricot jam until they are uniform, then brush this glaze mixture on top of the freshly baked buns.

All these images are credited to Bincy Chris via YouTube. Give her channel a visit and subscribe for more!

Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe