Hot Cross Buns Currants Spices (Printable)
Soft, lightly sweetened buns featuring currants and warming spices topped with a glossy glaze.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Dough
01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp instant dry yeast
04 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
06 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk, lukewarm
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1 cup currants or raisins
12 - Zest of 1 orange
→ For the Cross
13 - 1/2 cup plain flour
14 - 5–6 tbsp water
→ For the Glaze
15 - 2 tbsp apricot jam
16 - 1 tbsp water
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine the bread flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, and fine sea salt in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Add softened butter and orange zest to the dry mixture. Pour in lukewarm whole milk and crack in the large egg. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Knead by hand on a floured surface or with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Fold the currants or raisins into the dough until evenly distributed throughout.
05 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
06 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a smooth ball.
07 - Arrange buns on a parchment-lined baking tray, leaving space for expansion. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes until puffy.
08 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
09 - Mix plain flour with 5–6 tbsp water to form a thick, pipeable paste. Transfer to a piping bag or small zip-top bag.
10 - Pipe a cross shape over each bun using the flour paste.
11 - Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
12 - Warm apricot jam with 1 tbsp water in a small saucepan or microwave until thinned.
13 - Brush the warm jam glaze over the hot buns for a shiny finish. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dough comes together beautifully even if you are new to yeast baking
- That first warm bite with melting butter and sweet currants is worth every minute of rising time
02 -
- The milk should be lukewarm, not hot, or it can kill the yeast
- The cross paste needs to be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to pipe smoothly
03 -
- Soak the currants in warm orange juice for 30 minutes before adding for extra moisture and flavor
- If the cross paste is too thick add water one teaspoon at a time until it pipes easily