Entertain this Easter

All About the Buns: How to Make Hot Cross Buns at Home

Bake your own hot cross buns and personalise your Easter treat with a world of toppings that will satisfy every taste bud. Below, we share a plain, fruit-less Hot Cross Bun recipe from Create Bake Make.

Serves 12

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Resting Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast
• ½ cup of caster sugar
• 1 ½ cups of lukewarm milk
• 4 ½ cups of plain flour
• 3 teaspoons of mixed spice
• 2 tablespoons bread improver
• 3 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 50 g of melted butter
• 1 egg

For the Crosses

• ½ cup of plain flour
• ⅓ cup of water

For the Glaze

• 2 tablespoons of apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons of water

Method: 

1. Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside until needed.
2. Line a large baking dish with baking paper and set aside until needed.
3. Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and all of the milk into a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. After this time the mixture should have started to foam which is a sign the yeast is active.
4. In a large bowl, add the flour, bread improver, mixed spice and cinnamon, egg, butter, remaining sugar and activated yeast mixture. Use a butter knife to mix and combine the ingredients until a dough forms – don’t worry, it will be sticky.
5. Turn the dough onto a floured bench and knead for approximately 8 minutes or until the dough begins to feel elastic.
6. Place the dough into the prepared oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and sit in a warm place for around an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
7. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces before rolling into balls.
8. Place the dough balls into the prepared baking dish, cover with a tea towel and place the tin in a warm spot for another one hour to allow the dough to again rise.
9. While the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 200˚C.
10. In a small bowl, combine the extra plain flour and water until smooth and place into a piping bag.
11. Once the buns have again risen, pipe crosses onto them before placing the tray into the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown and spring back when touched.
12. To prepare your glaze, place the apricot jam and water into a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing to combine.
13. Brush the glaze over the still hot Hot Cross Buns before carefully transferring the buns to a wire rack to cool.

Recipe by Create Bake Make 

Feeling Fruity? How To Make Fruit Hot Cross Buns

Want a taste of traditional hot cross buns with dried fruit? Simply follow the recipe above and add in fruit as per the below suggestions to customise your buns:

• For a standard amount: Add 1 cup (approx. 150g) of fruit.
• For a fruit-heavy bun: Add 1 ½ cups (approx. 225g) of fruit.

Choosing Your Fruit:

• Traditional: Use a mix of sultanas (golden raisins), currants, and a little bit of mixed peel.
• Soaking (Pro Tip): For the best results, soak your dried fruit in boiling water, orange juice, or even a bit of brandy for about 10–15 minutes, then drain and pat dry before adding to the dough. This keeps the fruit plump and prevents it from drawing moisture out of the bread dough.

When to Add Fruit to the Dough:

You should fold the fruit into the dough just before the first rise. After you have mixed the dough and it has started to form (Step 4), add the fruit and then proceed to knead it for the required 8 minutes. This ensures the fruit is evenly distributed throughout the elastic dough.

Do Easter Your Way: Toppings to Personalise Your Homemade Hot Cross Buns

5 Sweet Hot Cross Bun Topping Ideas

1. The “Banoffee” Split: Slice the bun, add a layer of dulce de leche (or thick caramel), top with sliced bananas, and a dollop of whipped cream.
2. Whipped Honey & Pistachio: Whip together softened butter, honey, and a pinch of sea salt. Spread generously and top with crushed roasted pistachios for a salty-sweet crunch.
3. The Tiramisu Bun: Use a coffee-soaked bun (lightly brush the inside with espresso), fill with a sweetened mascarpone cream, and dust the whole thing with cocoa powder.
4. Dark Chocolate & Raspberry: While the bun is toasted and hot, press in a few squares of 70% dark chocolate so they melt, then smash fresh raspberries on top for tartness.
5. Lemon Curd & Blueberry: Slather the bun with tangy lemon curd and add a handful of fresh blueberries. It brightens up the heavy spices of the dough perfectly.

5 Savoury Hot Cross Bun Topping Ideas

1. The “Fancy” Grilled Cheese: Use Brie or Camembert and a thin layer of fig jam. Toast it until the cheese is oozing out of the sides.
2. Crispy Bacon & Maple: A classic sweet-savory combo. Fry some streaky bacon until it’s shattered-glass crispy, tuck it into the bun, and add a tiny drizzle of maple syrup.
3. Prosciutto & Goat Cheese: Spread a layer of creamy goat cheese (chèvre) and top with a ribbon of salty prosciutto. The funk of the cheese pairs brilliantly with the raisins.
4. The Breakfast Slider: Swap your morning roll for a hot cross bun. Fill it with a fried egg (runny yolk is a must) and a sausage patty. The spice in the bread acts like a “secret ingredient” seasoning.
5. Cheddar & Apple: A nod to the English tradition of eating fruitcake with cheese. Use a sharp, aged white cheddar and very thin slices of Granny Smith apple for a crisp, acidic bite.

Hot Cross Bun Preparation Tips

1. Always toast the bun first.

The heat wakes up the essential oils in the spices (cinnamon and allspice) and provides the structural integrity needed to hold your heavier toppings.

2.Use the “Butter Barrier”.

If you are using wet toppings like lemon curd or caramel, spread a thin, even layer of room-temperature butter across the entire toasted surface first. This creates a fat-based seal that prevents the moisture from the wet topping from soaking into the bread and making it soggy.

3. Be Mindful of Temperature Control

• For Melting: If you’re doing the Dark Chocolate or Goats Cheese option, place the toppings on the bun the second it pops out of the toaster/grill.
• For Creams: If you’re using Mascarpone or Whipped Butter, let the bun cool for about 1 minute after toasting. If it’s piping hot, the cream will turn into a liquid puddle before you can take your first bite.

Ovens to Help You Bake This Easter

Top Tech AI Baking with Steam

You need: AEG’s 60cm Built-In Single Steam Oven – Matte Black (NBP9S83PAT)

This AI enhanced steam oven features 167 automatic programs that makes cooking and baking feel like child’s play. Here’s why this AEG oven is the ultimate upgrade:

• SteamPro technology combines traditional baking and roasting with advanced steam functionality for restaurant-like results
• 25 cooking functions to meet every need; including steam, sous vide, air fry, slow cook, and dough proving – perfect for homemade hot cross buns
• 167 automatic programs for one-touch operation
• Large 7.8” touch display offers easy, guided cooking
• AI TasteAssist app: just add in web recipes or copy links and AI ensures the right cooking conditions specific to the oven

Perfect Temperatures with Pyrolytic Cleaning

You need: ASKO’s 60cm Pyrolytic Craft Built-In Oven (OP8637A1)

With 11 functions and an integrated temperature probe, baking Easter treats and hot cross buns will be effortless. Curious? This ASKO oven is perfect for any type of dish or dinner menu:

• 11 cooking functions to meet every need, including: FastPreheat, Small infra grill, Circular heater, WarmPlate and Defrost
• Temperature probe helps you achieve the right result: just set your desired internal temperature, insert the thermometer into the centre of your food and the oven automatically switches off when the temperature is reached.
• Dial controls and large LCD display provides simple controls to select functions and manage cooking
• Pyrolytic Self Clean™ function offers easy maintenance as it turns food residue into wipeable ash

Freestanding Freedom for Large Scale Baking & Entertaining

You need: Smeg’s 90cm Freestanding Dual Fuel Cooker – Stainless Steel (FS9606XS-1)

Bake more with the spacious 126L oven which boasts Thermoseal technology, providing a stable oven temperature for cakes and bakes that rise and satisfy. Here’s why this Smeg Freestanding Dual Fuel Cooker will delight:

• Large 126L oven with 5 cooking functions and 5 shelf positions to make more of your favourite Easter treats – sweet and savoury!
• Thermoseal technology retains heat within the oven cavity, enhances energy efficiency, reduces temperature changes, and helps lock in moisture and flavour
• Vapour Clean function uses steam to loosen food residue for simple wipe down without harsh scrubbing
• 5-zone gas cooktop with cast iron trivets safely accommodates many dishes at once
• Built-in storage drawer provides a convenient space for storing baking trays and cookware

Easter Baking 2026 Here You Come!

Baking your own hot cross buns is simple once you master the basics and equip your kitchen with the best oven technology for your needs. Whether you prefer the reliability of pyrolytic cleaning, the innovative touch of steam cooking, or a multi-purpose freestanding cooker, there’s an oven and kitchen appliance ready to elevate your holiday baking.

Pair your homemade hot cross buns with our exciting range of sweet and savoury toppings, and you’ll transform a traditional bun into a modern masterpiece. Get ready to fire up your oven and make 2026 your most creative and delicious Easter yet.

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