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Soft, Sticky, and Spiced: The Best Homemade Hot Cross Buns
Bake soft, spiced Hot Cross Buns at home with this easy, cozy recipe. Fluffy, sticky, and perfect for Easter or anytime comfort baking.
There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked hot cross buns wafting through your kitchen. These sticky, spiced buns are soft, sweet, and full of cozy flavor. Whether it’s Easter morning or just another lazy Sunday, this recipe makes every bite feel special, warm with a little butter melting right in.
Why You’ll Love and Enjoy Sticky Spiced Hot Cross Buns
- They’re soft, fluffy, and full of warm spices.
- That sweet sticky glaze gives bakery-level shine.
- No fancy mixer or skills needed; just your hands.
- Perfect for sharing… or keeping all to yourself.
- Makes your home smell like a bakery in springtime.
Sticky Spiced Hot Cross Buns bring people together with their cozy sweetness. That’s real homemade joy.
Print
Hot Cross Buns
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Proofing time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 depending on size 1x
- Category: Cake, Cupcakes, Cookies and Tarts
- Method: Easy
Description
Soft, golden, and packed with warm spices and raisins: these hot cross buns are everything you want on a cool morning. Don’t worry if your dough’s a little sticky; that’s how you know they’ll be tender and fluffy once baked!
Ingredients
Dough:
- 4 cups cake flour, sifted
- 10 g instant yeast (1 sachet)
- 1/2 cup castor sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 300 ml lukewarm milk (just warm, not hot)
- 40 g melted butter
- 1 1/2 cups seedless raisins
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
Flour paste:
- 1/2 cup flour
- 5 tbsp water
For the glaze:
- 2 tbsp castor sugar
- 1/3 cup of water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 4 cups of flour, 10 g yeast, ½ cup castor sugar, spices, salt, and 1½ cups raisins.
- Stir in 2 beaten eggs.
- Combine 40 g melted butter with 300 ml lukewarm milk, then pour it into the dry ingredients.
- Use a flat spatula to bring it together; it’ll be a little sticky, but that’s okay!
- Tip the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and stretchy.
- Lightly grease a clean bowl with oil, place the dough inside, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise for about 1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down to release the air, knead again for a minute, and divide into 12 even portions.
- Roll each into a smooth ball and place on a parchment-lined baking tray, spaced slightly apart so they’ll touch when baked.
- Cover the tray with a towel and let the buns rise again for 30 minutes, until puffy.
- Mix ½ cup flour and 5 tbsp water until smooth with no visible lumps.
- Spoon into a piping bag (or a small ziplock with the corner snipped off) and pipe a cross over each bun.
- Pop them into a preheated oven at 190°C (170°C fan) and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and fragrant.
- While they bake, simmer 2 tbsps castor sugar and ⅓ cup water in a small pot for 3 minutes until syrupy.
- Brush the glaze over the buns as soon as they come out of the oven; that’s what gives them that beautiful, sticky shine.
Notes
Created, prepared, tried, and tested by Gail
Most people don’t realize how easy it is to make Sticky Spiced Hot Cross Buns. The secret’s all in the knead and that glossy glaze. Bake a batch and discover why soft homemade buns always win.
Sticky Spiced Hot Cross Buns offer soft, fragrant comfort straight from the oven. Their golden shine, sweet glaze, and warm spice make them irresistible for breakfast or an afternoon treat. Every bite delivers that cozy, homemade goodness that keeps people coming back for more.
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