What’s Easter without hot cross buns?
While there are plenty of different varieties available in the supermarket, or at your local bakery, there is nothing quite like making them yourself from scratch at home.
Below is our most popular classic hot cross buns recipe, perfect to attempt on a cool autumn weekend.
Keep on scrolling to read the full recipe.
Try these delicious buns out during your next rainy afternoon at home.
(Credit: (Image: The Australian Women’s Weekly))Hot cross buns
MAKES: 12
PREP TIME: 1 HOUR (PLUS PROVING TIME)
INGREDIENTS
1¼ cups (375ml) milk
¼ cup (55g) caster sugar
2 x 7g sachets dried yeast
4 cups (600g) plain flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 teaspoon salt
60g butter, softened
finely grated rind of 2 oranges
1½ cups (250g) sultanas
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 (50g) cup self-raising flour
2 tablespoons apricot jam
METHOD
1. In a microwave safe jug, heat the milk on HIGH 100% power for 60 seconds or until warm.
Add the caster sugar and stir until dissolved; gradually whisk in the dried yeast. It is important at this stage that the milk is warm enough to activate the yeast but not too hot. Stand yeast mixture in a warm place for about 10 minutes or until it froths up a little.
2. Sift flour, cinnamon, mixed spice and salt into a large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub in butter. Add orange rind and sultanas. Add eggs and yeast mixture; mix until it comes together in a sticky dough.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured bench and knead by hand for 5-10 minutes until stretchy and smooth.
Alternatively, place in the bowl of an electric mixer with the dough hook attachment and knead for 5 minutes on low speed. Place dough in a large oiled bowl. Cover and place in a warm place for 45 minutes until it rises to almost twice its size.
4. Turn the dough onto the bench and knead the dough for a couple of minutes, then divide and roll into 12 balls.
Place the balls 1cm apart on a greased baking tray. Cover loosely and leave in a warm place for another 15 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). In a small bowl combine the self-raising flour with 50ml of water and mix well.
Place in a small piping bag with a small plain tube, or a plastic bag with a tiny piece of the corner snipped off. Pipe a cross onto each of the buns. Bake for 25 minutes or until the buns are golden brown.
Heat the jam with 2 tablespoons of water in the microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds; strain and brush over the hot buns to glaze.
Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.
