Caribbean🍞 Bread & bakery

Easy Hot Cross Buns (soft & fluffy)

Name: Easy Hot Cross Buns (soft & fluffy)
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Caribbean
Ingredients: 4 cups all purpose flour; 1 cup warm evaporated milk (or milk of your choice); 1 tbsp instant yeast; ½ cup sugar; ¼ cups melted butter; 1 egg; ¼ cups raisins or currants; ¼ cups mixed peel; 1 tbsp vanilla essence; 1 tsp grated nutmeg; 1 tsp cinnamon powder; 2 tsp orange or lemon zest; 1 tsp salt; 4 yellow food coloring or turmeric powder; ¼ cups water (for citrus glaze); ¼ cups sugar (for citrus glaze); ~1 tsp orange or lime peel (or vanilla essence); 1 cup icing sugar (for icing); 1 tbsp orange, lemon or lime juice (for icing)

⏱ 105 min🍽 Serves 12

A beginner-friendly hot cross bun recipe that produces beautifully soft and fluffy buns. Flavored with warm spices and citrus zest, then finished with a sweet citrus glaze and icing cross.

Adapted from a video by Racquel’s Caribbean Cuisine

Easy Hot Cross Buns Recipe (soft & fluffy)

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

all purpose flour4 cups
warm evaporated milk (or milk of your choice)1 cup
instant yeast1 tbsp
sugar½ cup
melted butter¼ cups
egg1
raisins or currantsoptional¼ cups
mixed peeloptional¼ cups
vanilla essence1 tbsp
grated nutmeg1 tsp

Steps

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1
Pour 1 cup of warm milk into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of instant yeast and allow it to activate with the warmth of the milk.
2
Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, freshly grated nutmeg, 1 tablespoon vanilla essence, and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
3
Stir in 1/4 cup mixed peel, 1/4 cup raisins and currants, and 2 teaspoons of orange or lemon zest. For a golden color, add a few drops of yellow food coloring or turmeric powder if desired (optional).
4
Gradually add 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Add 3 cups first and mix well, then gradually add the remaining cup until the dough reaches the right consistency.
5
Use your hands to knead the dough until it comes together. Continue kneading for 4 to 5 minutes to develop the gluten and create a soft, smooth dough.
6
Cover the dough with plastic wrap to trap air inside. Let it rise at room temperature for about 30 minutes until it doubles in size.
7
Transfer the risen dough to a clean work surface. Divide it in half, then cut each half into 6 equal pieces to make 12 buns. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
8
Place the shaped buns on a greased baking pan with space between each one to allow for expansion during the second rise.
9
Cover the buns and let them rise for about 20 minutes until they puff up beautifully.
10
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the buns for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
11
While the buns bake, make the citrus glaze. In a saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water, orange or lemon peel, 1/4 cup sugar, and a bit of vanilla essence. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened. Set aside to cool.
12
Once the buns are baked, brush them with the citrus glaze and allow them to cool slightly.
13
Make the icing: combine 1 cup icing sugar with 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice (or use water or milk). Mix until thick. Transfer to a piping bag or small plastic bag.
14
Cut a small opening in the bag and gently pipe the icing over each bun to create a cross pattern.

Easy Hot Cross Buns (soft & fluffy)

Ingredients

Steps

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