The Perfect Soft and Fluffy Hot Cross Bun
An easy method with a delicious combination of ingredients producing the perfect traditional hot cross bun.
Ingredients
For the Buns
- 3 tsp Instant yeast
- 1/2 cup Castor sugar
- 1/2 cup Water lukewarm
- 1 1/2 cups Milk lukewarm
- 4 1/2 cups Brown Flour
- 2 tsp Cinnamon ground
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Raisins
- 1 Orange zest
- 4 tbsp Butter melted
- 1 Egg beaten
For the Crosses
- 1/2 cup White flour
- 6 tbsp Water
For the Glaze
- 2 tbsp Apricot jam
- 3 tsp Water
Instructions
For the Buns
- Place the yeast and 2 teaspoons of the sugar in a bowl, then pour in water and leave it for 5 minutes to froth.
- Mix your flour, salt, cinnamon and remaining sugar in another bowl.
- Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredient mix and add your melted butter, beaten egg, milk, orange zest and raisins. Then pour in the yeast mix.
- Mix until combined to make a thick dough.
- Cover your dough with a wet cloth and place in a warm place to rise for around 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Grease or line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Flour a surface, then take your dough out and punch it to deflate. Now you can separate it into balls and make your individual buns, placing them on the baking tray.
- Cover your tray of buns and leave in a warm place to rise for about one hour.
For the Crosses
- Mix your white flour and water until a paste forms.
- Put your paste into a piping bag and pipe a cross onto each bun. If you do not have a piping bag you can use a small ziplock bag with the corner cut off.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake the buns for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
For the Glaze
- Warm the water and jam and mix together.
- Once your buns are baked, but are still warm, brush the jam glaze onto them.