Hot Cross Buns
 
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 12-16
Ingredients
  • Dough
  • 1 Tablespoon instant (rapid rise) yeast
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups (15oz) bread flour
  • ½ cup (5oz) whole wheat flour
  • 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg (lightly beaten)
  • 1 and ¼ cups warm water
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 cup raisins
  • "Cross" paste
  • ⅛ cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅛ cup water
  • Glaze
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp water
Directions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, mix together the yeast, sugar, salt, flours and butter. Add the egg and mix well. Slowly drizzle in the water until a smooth dough forms. Add the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and raisins and continue to mix until the dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. If the dough is too sticky, add a little bit of flour at a time. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover and allow to double or triple in volume (at least 1 hour).
  2. Punch the dough down and generously grease a 9"x13" baking pan. Divide the dough into 12-16 equal parts and roll each portion of dough into a ball. Place it in your prepared baking pan. It's fine to get the dough touch each other.
  3. Mix up the paste by combining the flour and water together. Stir until smooth. I put my paste in a measuring cup and poured it onto the dough balls, but you can transfer it to a zip-top bag and snip off the corner and pipe on the crosses.
  4. Allow the dough to rest and rise for at least another 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the buns in your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown.
  6. Once you take the buns out of the oven, make the glaze. Combine the sugar and water and lightly brush the tops of each bun with the glaze. Allow to cool slightly before serving. If the crosses aren't prominent enough for you (mine were barely visible), simply mix up a simple glaze of powdered sugar, vanilla and milk and pipe on crosses on the cooled buns. I know hot cross bun purists won't like me for giving you this option, but it definitely makes a better presentation.
Notes
Leftover buns should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They can also be frozen and thawed.
Recipe by Mandy's Recipe Box at https://mandysrecipeboxblog.com/hot-cross-buns/