Hot Cross Buns Raisins Orange (Printable)
Soft spiced buns with raisins and a fragrant orange glaze, perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 packet (7 g) active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
08 - 1 cup whole milk, lukewarm
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1 cup raisins
12 - Zest of 1 orange
→ Cross Paste
13 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 5-6 tbsp water
→ Orange Glaze
15 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2-3 tbsp fresh orange juice
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
02 - Make a well in the center. Add lukewarm milk, melted butter, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Gently knead in the raisins and orange zest until evenly distributed.
05 - Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
06 - Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape each into a ball and place on a parchment-lined baking tray, leaving space between buns.
07 - Cover and let rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
08 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
09 - For the cross paste, mix flour with water to form a thick, pipeable paste. Transfer to a piping bag and pipe a cross over each bun.
10 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
11 - While baking, mix powdered sugar and orange juice to make the glaze.
12 - Brush the hot buns with orange glaze as soon as they come out of the oven.
13 - Cool slightly before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The spices hit you first, then that bright orange essence wakes everything up
- They stay incredibly soft for days, though they rarely last that long
02 -
- Milk that's too hot can kill the yeast, but too cold won't activate it properly—aim for bath temperature
- The cross paste needs to be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to pipe without breaking
- Glazing while piping hot creates that beautiful sheen, but wait to glaze if you plan to freeze the buns
03 -
- Soak raisins in warm orange juice for 15 minutes, then drain well for extra plump, flavorful fruit
- Brush the risen buns with beaten egg before piping the crosses for a shinier finish