Speedy Hot Cross Buns: Sort-of From Scratch, Totally Home Made!

It doesn't get much easier than this. Fewer ingredients take the stress out of Easter baking.

Making homemade Hot Cross Buns is surprisingly easy with a little help from Pennyweight Market. We have everything you need to make your home smell like a bakery! Just follow along with these steps:

6 cups Hot Cross Bun Mix

3 tsp Instant Yeast

3 tsp Hot Cross Bun Spice

1 3/4 cups water

Mix these first four ingredients in a mixer with the paddle attachment or need by hand. Mix until the dough starts to come together but is still a little sticky then add the following ingredients.

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup glace fruit

Incorporate these ingredients until the dough is smooth (it will be chunky because of the fruit and raisins but the dough will be smooth).

Cover with a damp, clean towel and place in a warm place to rise. Rising time will vary depending on how warm your house is but you can count on about one hour. You will know it is risen when the dough has grown in size slightly and when you push on it with your finger it is squishy. Hot Cross Buns are dense so they will not be “fluffy”.

The next step is to preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Then knead the dough a couple of times to release the air. Divide the dough into 12 balls and place them in a greased baking dish (we used butter to grease our glass baking dish). The dough balls can be touching each other. Let rise again. This time for about 30 minutes (give or take).

Bake them for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.

When the buns are almost cooled completely you will use white icing to make the symbolic cross design. You can use the pre-made icing pack from Pennyweight (follow the instructions for warming before using) or you can make a simple icing.

Simple Icing For Your Buns

3 tbsp icing sugar

1/2 tsp milk or water

Mix ingredients until they are thick (adjust water/milk and icing sugar until desired thickness is achieved). Scoop the icing into a ziplock bag, cut the tip and ice the buns.

We love experimenting with new recipes but we also love it when they are easy! This Hot Cross Bun recipe is simple but it is also very satisfying. Hot Cross Buns taste best fresh, and of course, we always recommend serving them with butter!