The Ultimate Soft & Fluffy Hot Cross Buns Recipe

By Bigger Bolder Baking · 210 min

Ingredients

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, sift the flour, salt and mixed spice, then rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mix looks like fine breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the sugar, lemon zest and yeast.
3. Beat the egg into the lukewarm milk, add it to the dry ingredients and mix to a soft, pliable dough.
4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, scatter over the dried fruit and knead lightly for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic with the fruit evenly distributed.
5. Oil a large bowl, shape the dough into a ball, place it in the bowl, cover with cling wrap and leave in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, until doubled in size.
6. Turn the dough out, divide it into 12 equal pieces of about 3 ½ oz (100 g) each, and roll each into a ball.
7. Grease a baking tray with butter and arrange the buns in rows of 4 x 3. Cover and leave in a warm spot for another hour, until the buns have risen together.
8. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the buns with egg wash.
9. Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown.
10. Immediately brush the hot buns with a little warmed honey or golden syrup, then cool on a wire rack.
11. Mix the icing ingredients until smooth but stiff enough to hold its shape, adding a splash more milk if it is too stiff.
12. Pipe a cross onto the cooled buns using a piping bag with a small nozzle, then leave for 30 minutes for the icing to set.

Summarized from Bigger Bolder Baking's video. Watch it for the details.

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