Hot cross buns are one of our best loved Easter traditions, but over the past few years, this spring-time classic has been getting a bit of a makeover. Whether you like yours with chocolate, fruit, or cheese, these five luxury hot cross bun recipes will add a little something special to your Easter spread.
Traditional hot cross buns
Sweet, spicy, and delicious, our traditional hot cross bun recipe is best enjoyed with a generous spread of fresh butter, paired with a pot of Earl Grey or strong English breakfast tea. To make our luxury alternatives, just swap out the dried fruit and spices as necessary.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 500g strong white bread flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 75g caster sugar
- 10g instant yeast
- 300ml whole milk
- 50g unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 200ml lukewarm water
For the flavourings (substitute as desired):
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground mixed spice
- 300g mixed dried fruit (such as currants, sultanas, and raisins)
- 50g candied peel (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon
For the cross:
- 75g plain flour
- 2–3 tbsp water (enough to form a paste)
Method:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and mixed spice.
- Create a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, melted butter, egg, and lemon zest. Mix together until a sticky dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle it with more flour.
- Once smooth, knead in the dried fruit and candied peel until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel, and leave to rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- After proving, gently punch the dough down to release air, then divide it into 12 equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a round bun and place them on a lined baking tray, leaving a little space between each one.
- Cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for another 30–40 minutes until the buns have puffed up.
- While the buns are proving, make the cross paste by mixing plain flour with just enough water to form a thick paste.
- Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan)/Gas 7.
- Once the buns are finished proving, use a piping bag or spoon to pipe a cross over each bun.
- Bake the buns for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- While the buns are baking, make the glaze by combining the sugar and water in a small pan. Heat over low to medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved completely. Bring to a gentle simmer for a minute to thicken slightly.
- Once the buns are out of the oven, immediately brush them with the sugar water glaze while they are still warm. This will give them a glossy finish.
- Allow the buns to cool on a wire rack before enjoying.
1. Pistachio & white chocolate
Pistachio is the flavour of the season this year, and we'd be remiss not to include it in our hot cross buns. To make pistachio and white chocolate versions, replace the dried fruit with 100g each of roughly chopped pistachios and white chocolate chips. Remember to ensure they’re evenly distributed in the dough to get a hit of melted chocolate and nutty pistachio in every bite. If you'd like, you can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to enhance the sweetness. Pair with a floral tea such as chamomile or rose to complement the flavours of your hot cross buns. You can find out more about floral varieties in our guide to the types of tea.
2. Chai
We love the lightly spiced flavour of a classic hot cross bun, so why not take it one step further with a chai twist? You can make your own chai by combining four tablespoons of cinnamon and two tablespoons of ground ginger with a tablespoon each of cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and nutmeg. Then simply add two teaspoons of your chai spice to your hot cross bun dough in place of the ground cinnamon and mixed spice. Alternatively, brew some strong chai tea and replace half of the milk with it. Don't forget to brew a pot for yourself, too!
3. Earl Grey & honey
We think a good hot cross bun is always uplifted with a steaming cup of Earl Grey, so why not add it to your hot cross bun recipe? Simply replace half of the milk with 150ml of strong, freshly brewed Earl Grey tea. Replace ¾ of the sugar with three tablespoons of honey to give the buns a subtle sweetness without overpowering the tea flavour. You can also brush the buns with a mixture of honey and a little water after baking for a glossy, aromatic finish.
4. Lemon & blueberry
If you like your hot cross buns with a little more of a zesty kick, then you'll love this lemon and blueberry recipe. To make it, swap the dried fruit for 150g of dried or frozen blueberries, and add the zest of two lemons to the dough. To keep the blueberries from making the dough too wet, toss them in a little flour before folding them in. This will also stop them from sinking to the bottom during baking. For an extra zing, you can drizzle a lemon glaze over the buns once they’re out of the oven, mixing lemon juice with powdered sugar.
Pair your lemon and blueberry hot cross buns with a steaming pot of ginger tea. You can even make your own by adding a small piece of fresh ginger to a teapot, a touch of honey and lemon to taste, then adding boiling water.
5. Cheese & caramelised onion
If savoury hot cross buns are more to your taste, this cheesy, flavour-packed recipe is a must-try. To make cheese and caramelised onion hot cross buns, simply replace the dried fruit with caramelised onions and grated cheese.
To make the onions, gently cook one large onion in a tablespoon of butter until golden and sweet. You can add a pinch of sugar for extra sweetness if you like. Then, let it cool before adding it to the dough.
For the cheese, use a strong cheese like cheddar or goats cheese, grating or crumbling about 100g to fold into the dough. You can also sprinkle some extra cheese on top before baking for an extra cheesy crust.
Although the classic hot cross bun holds a special place in our heart, these five luxury alternatives offer a fresh way to enjoy the season. Don't forget to serve your home-baked hot cross buns on Burleigh side plates with a pot of tea and matching cups and saucers — our handprinted floral patterns are perfect for this time of year.