Freshly baked hot cross buns arranged on a rustic wooden cutting board, ready to be enjoyed.

Hot cross buns

Who doesn't look forward to a freshly baked or toasted hot cross bun smothered in butter? We love these buns and bake a batch whenever the mood strikes, leaving off the crosses if it isn't Easter. I also like to vary the dried fruit; a mix of chopped dates, cranberries, apricots, and cherries is particularly good. Why not mix it up?
20 mins
serves 8

Method

  1. If you have a food mixer, combine the flours, water, milk, yeast, salt, and sugar in the bowl and fit the dough hook. Add the egg and butter, and mix to form a sticky dough.
  2. Now add the dried fruit, orange zest, and spice, and knead on low speed until silky and smooth. (You can do this by hand, but it will be sticky to handle.)
  3. Cover the dough and leave it to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
  4. Knock back the risen dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Shape them into rounds and dust with flour. Place on a floured board, cover with plastic wrap or a linen cloth, and leave to prove for about half an hour, or until roughly doubled in size.
  5. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6.
  6. To make the crosses, whisk together the flour and water until smooth, then transfer to a greaseproof paper piping bag and snip off the end to create a fine hole (or use a plastic food bag with a corner snipped off, as I do).
  7. Transfer the risen buns to a baking tray and pipe a cross on top of each one. Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, melt the jam with the water in a pan. Brush over the buns to glaze as you take them from the oven.
  9. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm, cold, or toasted.

Ingredients

  • 250g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 250g plain white flour
  • 125ml warm water
  • 125ml warm milk
  • 5g powdered dried yeast
  • 10g salt
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 1 medium free-range egg
  • 50g butter
  • 100g raisins, currants or sultanas (or a mixture)
  • Finely grated zest of ½ orange
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice

For the crosses

  • 50g plain white flour
  • 100ml water

To finish

  • 1 tbsp apricot (or other) jam, sieved
  • 1 tbsp water
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