Hot Cross Bun
This vegetarian builds fresh yeast, mixed dried fruit and raisins and apricot jam for glazing into a satisfying meal you can have ready in about 70 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and baking tray. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Warm the milk and water until just lukewarm at about 37 C, then crumble in the fresh yeast with a teaspoon of the sugar and stir until dissolved; leave for 10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, remaining sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, then rub in the softened butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Make a well in the centre, add the beaten egg and the yeasted milk, then mix and knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Work in the dried fruit, then cover the bowl and leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Knock back the dough, divide into 12 equal pieces, shape into tight balls and arrange close together on a lined baking tray; cover and prove for a further 45 minutes until puffy.
- Mix a few tablespoons of flour with a little water to a thick pipeable paste, pipe a cross over each bun, then bake in an oven preheated to 200 C for 18 to 20 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Warm the apricot jam and brush it over the hot buns to glaze, then cool on a wire rack before serving.
You'll use: Oven · Baking tray
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
Tips & common questions
How long does Hot Cross Bun take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 13 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Hot Cross Bun vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Hot Cross Bun is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Hot cross buns - fig and pecan.jpg by jules, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.