Have you ever thought of pimping up your Hot Cross Buns? There are so many different ways you can including chocolate and nuts. However, I think these cranberry hot cross buns are the best! Adding cranberries and lime zest is a game-changer! Some might find this Easter tradition a bit drab and boring, but a citrus twist makes these sweet hot cross buns the perfect Easter treat! Enjoy this cranberry hot cross buns recipe.
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 3 hourshrs
Cook Time 20 minutesmins
Total Time 3 hourshrs20 minutesmins
Course Bakes, Bread, Sweet Treats
Cuisine British, English
Servings 12hot cross buns
Calories 311kcal
Ingredients
500gstrong white bread flour(plus extra for dusting)
10gsalt
10ginstant yeast
80gcaster sugar
50gunsalted butter
2mediumeggs
120mlsemi-skimmed milk(warm)
100mlwater(room temperature)
75gcranberries
75gcurrants
80gmixed peel(chopped)
2limes(zest only)
2teaspoonsmixed spice
1teaspooncinnamon
For the crosses
75gplain flour / all purpose flour
75mlwater
For the glaze
100gapricot jam(use smooth for best results)
Instructions
Sieve the flour into a large bowl and add the salt, sugar and yeast.
Add the soft butter, eggs, milk and half the water. Here is where it gets messy. With one hand start bring all the mix together. Add a little more water if you need it to make a soft but not soggy dough
Tip the dough from the bowl and knead for 5-10 minutes with a little flour to stop it sticking to the work top until smooth.
Add the cranberries, currants, mixed peel, lime zest, mixed spice and cinnamon to the dough and knead in until evenly spread through the dough.
Pop the dough into lightly oiled bowl and leave for at least an hour until doubled in size. I left it for 2 hours.
Take the dough from the bowl and give it a quick knead to get the air out.
Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Divide into 12 and place the balls on the tray with about a 1cm gap between them.
Place the baking tray somewhere warm for 1 hour for the buns to rise.
Meanwhile, heat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan.
For the crosses mix the flour and water in to a thick paste. Pop the flour paste into a piping bag and draw the crosses across the buns.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
While the hot cross buns are baking warm the apricot jam as soon as it’s baked remove from the oven and brush over the tops of the warm buns to glaze.
Leave to cool slightly before tucking in.
Notes
Store when baked and cooled, in an air tight container. They will last 2-3 days and will be better toasted the next day.