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Cozy Hot Cross Buns Recipe Easy Soft Spiced Fluffy Homemade

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Soft, spiced hot cross buns with a fluffy texture and a sweet icing cross, perfect for a cozy treat or seasonal celebrations like Easter. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (480 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (one packet)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110°F (43°C)
  • 1/3 cup (65 g) granulated sugar
  • 4 tbsp (56 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp freshly grated orange zest
  • 3/4 cup (110 g) mixed dried fruit (currants, raisins, or chopped dried apricots), soaked in warm water for 10 minutes then drained
  • For the Icing Cross:
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
  • Approx. 5 tbsp (75 ml) water, adjust to make a pipeable paste
  • For the Glaze:
  • 2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and strained

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast by combining warm milk (110°F/43°C), sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Stir gently and set aside for 5-10 minutes until frothy and bubbly.
  2. Whisk eggs lightly in a separate bowl. Add melted butter, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest to the yeast mixture. Stir in the eggs.
  3. Gradually add sifted flour to the wet ingredients, mixing with a spatula or stand mixer on low speed. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky. Add more flour if too sticky but keep dough soft.
  4. Drain soaked dried fruit and fold into dough evenly. Knead gently to distribute without crushing fruit.
  5. Cover bowl with towel or plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size and airy.
  6. Lightly flour work surface. Punch down dough to release air. Divide into 12 equal pieces (~80 g or 2.8 oz each). Shape each into a smooth ball and arrange tightly on parchment-lined tray or pan.
  7. Cover buns and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy and nearly doubled.
  8. Prepare icing cross by mixing flour and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Add water a tablespoon at a time until thick but pipeable paste forms. Transfer to piping bag or zip-top bag.
  9. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Pipe vertical and horizontal lines over each bun to create classic cross shape.
  10. Bake buns for 18-22 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
  11. Remove buns from oven and immediately brush with warmed apricot jam for shiny, sweet finish. Let cool slightly on wire rack before serving.

Notes

Use lukewarm milk to avoid killing yeast. Knead dough until slightly sticky but not clingy for soft buns. Soak dried fruit to prevent moisture loss from dough. Pipe icing cross just before baking for best results. Brush apricot jam while buns are hot for glossy finish and moisture retention. Tent buns with foil if browning too quickly but undercooked inside.

Nutrition

Keywords: hot cross buns, spiced buns, Easter bread, homemade buns, cinnamon buns, soft bread, easy baking, dried fruit buns

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/cozy-hot-cross-buns-recipe-easy-soft-spiced-fluffy-homemade/