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You are here: Home / Recipes and Cooking Tips / Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns

March 16, 2025 by Alea Milham 5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
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How to make Hot Cross Buns - recipe and tips
How to make hot cross buns - recipe and step by step directions

Here are step-by-step directions for how to make Hot Cross Buns from scratch.

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hot cross buns recipe for Easter or Good Friday

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With the abundance of sugary treats on display each spring, one Easter treat stands out as refreshingly simple. Subtle spices, raisins, and a soft texture make hot cross buns an anticipated pleasure and welcome addition to any holiday meal.

Traditionally, hot cross buns are served on Good Friday.  Rich in history and superstition, the origin of the buns is not clear, but they are embraced as a religious symbol by many. In past times, they were thought to bring good luck to the household, strengthen friendships, and keep sailors safe at sea.

Today hot cross buns are a traditional sign that Easter is approaching…the ultimate comfort food.

Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup very warm water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup currants (or raisins)
  • 4 ½ cups flour
  • Egg wash (1 egg plus 1 tablespoon water, mixed well)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine the dry yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit until bubbly…5-10 minutes.

2. In the microwave or a small pan on low, heat the milk and butter together until the butter melts. Add the honey and stir well.

3. Add the warm milk mixture and eggs to the yeast mixture and stir. Add the salt, spices, currants (or raisins), and 3 cups of flour. (If you are using a stand mixer, switch to a dough hook at this point.) Beat for one minute.

4. Add the remaining flour gradually. By stand mixer, knead for 5 minutes. The dough will be slightly sticky but should pull away cleanly from the sides of the bowl. If it doesn’t, add a little more flour.  If kneading by hand, drop the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes.

5. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let it rise until double – about 1 ½ hours.

let hot cross bun dough rise
6. Punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 16 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place 1 inch apart on two lightly greased baking sheets.

7. Let the buns rise until doubled – about 1 hour.

8. Preheat the oven to 375 when the buns are almost finished rising.

9. With a very sharp knife or razor knife, cut a shallow cross into the top of each bun and brush with egg wash:

cutting an X in hot cross buns
10. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

11. Combine the powdered sugar and milk. Stir well and put in a pastry bag or plastic zipper bag with the tip snipped off.

adding icing to hot cross buns
12. Pipe icing inside the cross on each bun.

Hot Cross Buns

Printable Recipe for Hot Cross Buns

homemade hot cross buns recipe
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Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Homemade hot cross buns recipe with an icing cross on top of the bun.
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Keyword hot cross buns recipe
Prep Time 2 hours hours
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Servings 16
Author Alea Milham

Ingredients

  • 1 package active-dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ cup very warm water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon cardamom
  • ½ cup currants or raisins
  • 4 ½ cups flour
  • Egg wash 1 egg plus 1 tablespoon water, mixed well
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the dry yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit until bubbly…5-10 minutes.
  • In the microwave or a small pan on low, heat the milk and butter together until the butter melts. Add the honey and stir well.
  • Add the warm milk mixture and eggs to the yeast mixture and stir. Add the salt, spices, currants (or raisins), and 3 cups of flour. (If you are using a stand mixer, switch to a dough hook at this point.) Beat for one minute.
  • Add the remaining flour gradually. By stand mixer, knead for 5 minutes. The dough will be slightly sticky but should pull away cleanly from the sides of the bowl. If it doesn’t, add a little more flour. If kneading by hand, drop the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes.
  • Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let it rise until double – about 1 ½ hours.
  • Punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 16 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place 1 inch apart on two lightly greased baking sheets.
  • Let the buns rise until doubled – about 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 when the buns are almost finished rising.
  • With a very sharp knife or razor knife, cut a shallow cross into the top of each bun and brush with egg wash.
  • Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.
  • Combine the powdered sugar and milk. Stir well and put in a pastry bag or plastic zipper bag with the tip snipped off.
  • Pipe icing inside the cross on each bun.

 

How to make Hot Cross Buns - recipe and tips

More Easter Recipes

Easy Resurrection Rolls Recipe

How to Make Sugar Eggs with a Panoramic Scene

How to Make Hollow Chocolate Easter Eggs

White Chocolate Dipped Easter Pretzels

Easter Egg Rice Krispie Treats

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Laurie says

    March 22, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    I have not seen these with the icing in the cross. I have seen the hot cross buns before nut can’t remember trying them before.

    Thank you for sharing this at the Homestead Blog Hop 384

    Laurie
    Ridge Haven Homestead

    Reply
  2. Renae says

    March 18, 2022 at 9:39 am

    This is awesome. This brings back such fond childhood memories. I would love it if you would share this on The Fabulous Friday Link Party this Friday. You can find the link on my website, Peacock Ridge Farm. Blessings to you.

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    March 16, 2016 at 7:53 am

    My favorite Easter treat – it’s just not Easter without them! I hope you’ll share this one at our new You Link It, We Make It link party on knockitoffkim.com!

    Reply
  4. Liz Latham says

    March 11, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    I didn’t know that hot cross buns had such a history to them. Isn’t it crazy how much food is interwoven into our history? Thanks for linking up with Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!

    Reply
  5. Ellen Hawley says

    March 7, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Think I’ll try these. Thanks.

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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