Authentic Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup milk
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 2.5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1.67 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.33 cup white sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.25 teaspoon ground ginger
• 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.25 cup unsalted butter, softened, cut into pieces
• 1 egg egg
• 0.67 cup dried currants
• 0.25 cup diced candied citron
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 0.67 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons water

Instructions

1. Warm milk to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) in a small saucepan. Pour into a large bowl, whisk in ½ cup flour and yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit until bubbly, around 15 minutes.
2. Combine 1 ⅔ cups flour, ⅓ cup white sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg in the stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low for a few seconds. Add ¼ cup butter and mix on low until incorporated, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the yeast mixture and egg to the flour mixture. Mix on low for 2 minutes, then stop and rest for 10 minutes. Mix on medium until smooth and elastic, about 2 minutes. Add currants and citron on the lowest speed until evenly distributed, about 1 minute.
4. Grease a large bowl with butter. Place dough in the bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a floured surface, pat into a square, and cut into 12 pieces. Form each into a bun and place on the baking sheet. Press a cross into each bun. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
7. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, boil 2 tablespoons white sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a saucepan. Remove buns from the oven and transfer to a wire rack with the parchment paper. Immediately brush with the sugar glaze and cool completely, about 20 minutes.
9. Combine confectioners' sugar and 2 teaspoons water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until smooth and warm, about 10 seconds. Place in a plastic bag, snip a corner, and pipe a cross over cooled buns. Let icing dry for 30 minutes.

Nutrition

• Calories: 224 kcal
• Fat Content: 5 g
• Fiber Content: 2 g
• Sugar Content: 20 g
• Sodium Content: 124 mg
• Protein Content: 4 g
• Cholesterol Content: 27 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 42 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g