By Becky Hardin
Updated Oct 26, 2024
These homemade Hot Cross Buns are sweet, fluffy, and perfect for Good Friday, Easter Sunday, or any day! A rich golden brown and full of spices, these are sure to become part of your Easter tradition if they aren’t already.
What’s in a Hot Cross Bun?
It’s that time of year! A good hot cross bun is made with love, and the finest ingredients around.
- Milk: Be sure to use warm milk heated to the proper temperature to make sure the yeast activates.
- Sugar: All sweet rolls need white sugar. And don’t forget powdered sugar for the icing cross!
- Yeast: Use active dry yeast.
- Flour: All purpose flour works best to create the base of the dough.
- Salt: Just a bit of salt to balance out all the flavors.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice add a warming flavor.
- Raisins: Healthy, sweet, and adds a bit of texture.
- Eggs: You’ll need 3 total.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best.
- Water: You’ll need water for the egg wash.
- Orange Zest: This adds a zingy citrus flavor.
Pro Tip: If your yeast has been opened already or has been sitting in the back of your cabinet, it’s a great idea to proof it and make sure it’s still usable. Do this by adding the instant yeast and a small amount of warm water. If the yeast mixture starts bubbling, you’re good to go!
Variations on Hot Cross Buns
This recipe is already vegetarian-friendly, but can easily be made to accommodate a vegan diet. Just swap the milk for your favorite plant-based milk (like oat milk ) and leave out the eggs (you may need to add a bit more milk to get the sticky dough to come together), and swap the butter for vegetable, canola, or coconut oil. You can even skip the “egg wash” the top of the dough with plant-based milk to get that shiny glaze.
Feel free to mix all purpose flour with strong bread flour for the ultimate rise.
Raisins not your thing? Try dried figs, blueberries, cranberries, or any of your other favorite fruits.
Spice up those warm spices by adding a dash of cardamom, cloves, or star anise to the dough.
Hot cross buns are yeasted sweet buns filled with dried fruits and/or candied citrus peels and decorated with a white cross and topped with icing. They taste like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a dinner roll and are commonly eaten at Easter!
Because of their decorative cross (representing the crucifix) and warm spices (representing the spices used to embalm Jesus), these sweet rolls are symbolic of the day Jesus was crucified.
The white cross on traditional hot cross buns is a paste made from flour and water. It doesn’t really add flavor to the buns, just decoration. You can also simply score a cross shape on the top of each bun and skip the paste if you prefer.
Yes! Fully-baked hot cross buns can be made up to 3 days in advance of when you plan to serve them. You can also prep the buns through step 8 and chill them overnight in the refrigerator before baking them!
You can eat a hot cross bun as a side with your Easter meal or as a breakfast or snack item. They’re delicious any time of day. They’re yummy on their own, but you can also slather them in butter or cream cheese!
Yes! These buns will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours before enjoying them.
How to Make Ahead and Store
You can prepare the buns through step 8, placing them in the refrigerator to slow rise instead of the counter. They can be left in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Let come to room temperature for 30 minutes before egg washing, adding the cross paste, and baking. Store leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to Freeze
Freeze hot cross buns in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
What to Serve with Easter Hot Cross Buns
This traditional recipe goes well with a glass of warm milk, Chocolate Coffee , or a delicious Orange Julius . Serve it side by side with your favorite breakfast treats like an Egg McMuffin , or have the ultimate sweet tooth spread by adding Sticky Buns to the table. I love serving these with Easter brunch !
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Dough
- ▢ 1 cup milk 227 grams, lukewarm (105-110°F)
- ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ▢ 0.25 ounces instant yeast 7 grams (1 packet)
- ▢ 4 cups all-purpose flour 480 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ▢ ¾ cup raisins 112 grams
- ▢ 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
- ▢ 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 85 grams, melted (¾ stick)
For the Egg wash and Cross Paste
- ▢ 1 large egg 50 grams
- ▢ ½ cup all-purpose flour 60 grams
- ▢ 5 tablespoons water 71 grams
For the Icing
- ▢ ½ cup powdered sugar 57 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons milk 28 grams
- ▢ ½ teaspoon orange zest 1 gram
Video
Instructions
For the Dough
- Combine the milk, sugar, and instant yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let it sit for a few minutes until the yeast becomes foamy 1 cup milk, ½ cup granulated sugar, 0.25 ounces instant yeast
- In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and raisins together. 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¾ cup raisins
- Add the eggs and butter to the yeast mixture. . 2 large eggs, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Attach the dough hook to the mixer and mix on low until combined, about 1 minute.
- Add in the flour mixture in 2 installments and continue mixing on low speed for 4-5 minutes, until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough seems sticky, sprinkle in a little flour and continue mixing
- Cover the bowl with a towel, and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size. This will take 45-60 minutes. If your kitchen is cold, let the dough rise in your oven set to 200°F or on its warm setting.
- Punch down the dough. Remove it from the bowl and gather it into a ball on a floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Then, divide those pieces into 3 equal pieces for a total of 12 (about 93 grams per bun).
- Roll each piece into a ball and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Cover the baking pan with a kitchen towel, and place it in a warm spot to rise for 45 minutes until puffy. Preheat the oven to 350°F while the dough rises..
For the Egg Wash and Cross Paste
- Whisk the egg and a couple of teaspoons of water in a small dish. Brush the egg wash over the risen buns. 1 large egg
- In a bowl, combine the flour and water, mixing until it forms a paste-like consistency. ½ cup all-purpose flour, 5 tablespoons water
- Transfer the mixture to a sealable plastic bag, and snip the corner of the bag.
- Once the buns have risen, squeeze the flour mixture in a straight line across each row/column of buns to form a cross on each bun.
- Bake the buns for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to rest for a few minutes after baking.
For the Icing
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and orange zest. ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon orange zest
- Brush the icing over the buns.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
- Measure your dry ingredients using the spoon-and-level method to prevent dry buns.
- You can use active dried yeast in this recipe, but the buns may take longer to rise.
- For chewier hot cross buns, swap some (or all) of the all-purpose flour for bread flour.
- You can use any dried fruits in these buns, or a mixture of dried fruits and candied citrus peels.
- Feel free to add chopped nuts instead of (or in addition to) the raisins. Keep the total add-ins to 1 cup.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes.
- Cool the buns completely before icing them!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easter Bread Recipes We Love
- Easter Bread
- Dinner Rolls
- Parker House Rolls
- Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
- Hawaiian Rolls
- Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls
Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup milk 227 grams, lukewarm (105-110°F)
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 0.25 ounces instant yeast 7 grams (1 packet)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour 480 grams
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¾ cup raisins 112 grams
- 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 85 grams, melted (¾ stick)
For the Egg wash and Cross Paste
- 1 large egg 50 grams
- ½ cup all-purpose flour 60 grams
- 5 tablespoons water 71 grams
For the Icing
- ½ cup powdered sugar 57 grams
- 2 tablespoons milk 28 grams
- ½ teaspoon orange zest 1 gram
Instructions
For the Dough
- Combine the milk, sugar, and instant yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let it sit for a few minutes until the yeast becomes foamy 1 cup milk, ½ cup granulated sugar, 0.25 ounces instant yeast
- In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and raisins together. 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, ¾ cup raisins
- Add the eggs and butter to the yeast mixture. . 2 large eggs, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Attach the dough hook to the mixer and mix on low until combined, about 1 minute.
- Add in the flour mixture in 2 installments and continue mixing on low speed for 4-5 minutes, until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough seems sticky, sprinkle in a little flour and continue mixing
- Cover the bowl with a towel, and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size. This will take 45-60 minutes. If your kitchen is cold, let the dough rise in your oven set to 200°F or on its warm setting.
- Punch down the dough. Remove it from the bowl and gather it into a ball on a floured surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Then, divide those pieces into 3 equal pieces for a total of 12 (about 93 grams per bun).
- Roll each piece into a ball and place them in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Cover the baking pan with a kitchen towel, and place it in a warm spot to rise for 45 minutes until puffy. Preheat the oven to 350°F while the dough rises..
For the Egg Wash and Cross Paste
- Whisk the egg and a couple of teaspoons of water in a small dish. Brush the egg wash over the risen buns. 1 large egg
- In a bowl, combine the flour and water, mixing until it forms a paste-like consistency. ½ cup all-purpose flour, 5 tablespoons water
- Transfer the mixture to a sealable plastic bag, and snip the corner of the bag.
- Once the buns have risen, squeeze the flour mixture in a straight line across each row/column of buns to form a cross on each bun.
- Bake the buns for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to rest for a few minutes after baking.
For the Icing
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and orange zest. ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon orange zest
- Brush the icing over the buns.
Video
Notes
- Measure your dry ingredients using the spoon-and-level method to prevent dry buns.
- You can use active dried yeast in this recipe, but the buns may take longer to rise.
- For chewier hot cross buns, swap some (or all) of the all-purpose flour for bread flour.
- You can use any dried fruits in these buns, or a mixture of dried fruits and candied citrus peels.
- Feel free to add chopped nuts instead of (or in addition to) the raisins. Keep the total add-ins to 1 cup.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes.
- Cool the buns completely before icing them!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
