My Easter Morning Spiced Fruit Buns
I make these every year. The smell fills my whole house. It feels like a hug from spring itself.
These are my Easy Easter Hot Cross Buns. They are sweet spiced buns with raisins. I love them warm for breakfast. Doesn’t that smell amazing? This Hot cross buns recipe is a family favorite.
A Little Bun History
Traditional hot cross buns are very old. People baked them for Good Friday long ago. The cross on top has meaning. It reminds me of simple, good things.
That’s why this matters. Food can connect us to stories. It links us to people from the past. I think that’s pretty special. Do you have a food that tells a family story?
Let’s Talk Dough
This dough uses quick rise yeast. It makes everything faster. You just mix it with warm water and sugar. Seeing it puff up is like magic.
Here’s a tip. Knead the dough until it feels smooth. If it sticks, add a tiny bit of flour. This is the secret to fluffy buns. *Fun fact: the spices in these buns were once very expensive treasures!*
The Cross and The Glaze
Making the cross is fun. I use a small bag with a corner cut off. You just pipe lines over the buns. My first ones were very wobbly. I still laugh at that.
The glaze is just jam and water. It makes the buns shiny and sweet. This is how to make hot cross buns that look bakery-perfect. What’s your favorite part of baking? Is it mixing, shaping, or the eating?
Why We Bake Them
Homemade hot cross buns taste different. You made them with your own hands. That’s why this matters too. The love you bake in is the best ingredient.
They are perfect Easter breakfast recipes. Share them with your family on Sunday morning. Or try them as a Good Friday recipe. It starts a happy tradition. Are you looking for more Easter baking ideas this year?
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warm water | 1 cup | For the dough |
| Quick rise yeast | 1 envelope | For the dough |
| Sugar | 3 tbsp | For the dough |
| Large egg | 1 | For the dough |
| All purpose flour | 2 ½ cups + 2 tbsp | For the dough |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp | For the dough |
| Salt | 1 pinch | For the dough |
| Ground cloves | 2 tsp | For the dough |
| Ground cinnamon | 3 tsp | For the dough |
| Ground ginger | ½ tsp | For the dough |
| Dried raisins | 1 cup | For the dough |
| All purpose flour | 1/2 cup | For the cross |
| Water | ¼ cup + 6 tsp | For the cross |
| Apricot jam | ⅓ cup | For the glaze |
| Water | 2 tbsp | For the glaze |
Easy Easter Hot Cross Buns
These sweet spiced buns make the whole house smell like Easter morning. I love this hot cross buns recipe for our family breakfast. It feels special but is truly simple to make. Let’s bake some homemade hot cross buns together.
Instructions
Step 1: Mix your warm water, sugar, and quick rise yeast in a big bowl. Wait five minutes until it gets foamy. This wakes the yeast up for a perfect dough. Add the egg, oil, flour, spices, and raisins. What’s your favorite Easter baking idea? Share below!
Step 2: Knead the dough on a floured table until smooth. This is the fun, squishy part. Let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles. (A sunny windowsill is my secret spot for quick rise yeast dough.) I always peek under the towel.
Step 3: Shape the dough into twelve balls. Place them close together on your tray. Let them rise again until they’re cozy and touching. This makes soft, traditional hot cross buns. Preheat your oven now.
Step 4: Mix flour and water for the cross paste. Pipe a cross on each bun. Bake until they are golden brown. Doesn’t that smell amazing? While they bake, simmer jam and water for the glaze.
Step 5: Brush the warm buns with your shiny apricot glaze. Let them cool just a little. These sweet spiced buns are best served the same day. Enjoy this delicious Good Friday recipe with your family.
Creative Twists
Swap raisins for chocolate chips for a sweet surprise. Add orange zest to the dough for a sunny, bright flavor. Use a simple powdered sugar icing for the cross instead. Which one would you try first? Comment below!Serving & Pairing Ideas
These are wonderful Easter breakfast recipes. Serve your hot cross buns warm with soft butter. A cup of milky tea is the perfect partner. For a real treat, toast them the next day. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Buns Fresh and Warm
These sweet spiced buns are best the day you bake them. But I always make a double batch. Let them cool completely first. Then store them in a tin at room temperature for two days. For longer keeping, freeze them right away.
I remember my first batch of homemade hot cross buns. I left them on the counter covered by a towel. They dried out by the next morning. I was so sad. Now I know the secret is an airtight container.
To reheat, warm them in a low oven for five minutes. This brings back that soft, fresh-baked feel. Batch cooking like this means a ready treat for busy mornings. It turns baking day into a gift for your future self. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for Common Baking Hiccups
Is your dough not rising? Your kitchen might be too cold. I once put my bowl near a sunny window. The warmth helped the quick rise yeast dough work its magic. Place your bowl in a warm, humid spot. A turned-off oven with the light on works perfectly.
Are the buns too dense? You may have added too much flour. Measure your flour by spooning it into the cup. Then level it off with a knife. This matters because light buns are a joy to eat. They make your Easter breakfast recipes special.
Is your cross paste too thick or thin? You want a smooth, pipeable paste. Add water a teaspoon at a time. This control gives you pretty buns. It builds your confidence for all your Easter baking ideas. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Quick Questions, Answered
What is the traditional name for Easter fruit buns?
They are traditionally called hot cross buns. This name comes from the cross piped on top. These Traditional hot cross buns are a classic Good Friday recipe. They are often enjoyed throughout the Easter weekend. The cross is a very important symbol of the season.
How to make hot cross buns for Easter morning?
Follow this easy Easter hot cross buns recipe. The key is letting the dough rise twice. Make the dough the night before for a calm morning. On Easter, just shape, add the cross, and bake. You will have warm homemade hot cross buns ready for breakfast.
What spices are typically used in Easter buns?
Sweet spiced buns use cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Cinnamon gives a warm, cozy flavor. Cloves add a deep, spicy note. Ginger brings a little gentle heat. Together they create the classic scent of Easter baking. *Fun fact: centuries ago, these spices were very precious and expensive.
Can Easter fruit buns be made the night before?
Yes, you can prepare them the night before. After the first rise, punch down the dough. Cover it tightly and put it in the fridge. In the morning, let it warm up for an hour. Then shape your buns and let them have their second rise.
What is the significance of fruit buns at Easter?
The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus. The spices symbolize the ones used to embalm him. The fruit inside stands for sweetness and new life. Eating them is a tradition for Good Friday and Easter. It is a meaningful way to mark the season.
Are there vegan or dairy-free recipes for Easter spiced buns?
Absolutely. You can find many dairy-free recipes online. Use a plant-based milk and an egg substitute. Many bakers use flaxseed mixed with water. The spices and fruit will still give wonderful flavor. Everyone should be able to enjoy this tradition. Which tip will you try first?
From My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love making these sweet buns. The smell of them baking is pure happiness. It fills your home with warmth and anticipation. Sharing them makes the day even more special.
I would love to hear about your baking adventure. Did your family enjoy them? What was your favorite part? Please tell me all about it in the comments. Have you tried this recipe?
Happy cooking!
—Elena Rutherford
Easter Morning Spiced Fruit Buns
Description
Enjoy these classic, warmly spiced Easter buns, studded with raisins and topped with a traditional cross and sweet apricot glaze.
Ingredients
For the Buns:
For the Cross:
For the Glaze:
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and dust lightly with some flour.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the warm water, yeast, sugar, egg, flour, olive oil, salt, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and raisins.
- Using a dough hook attachment, mix the ingredients on low speed for about 4-5 minutes until they have come together.
- Dust your table with some flour and dump the dough onto the work surface.
- Sprinkle some extra flour on top of the dough if it seems sticky and knead the dough into a ball shape.
- Transfer the ball to a bowl that has been lightly sprayed with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm, humid place until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen enough, dump it back out onto the table and knock out all of the air from it.
- Roll the dough into a log shape and cut it into 12 even sized pieces. Roll each piece into a tight ball.
- Place the balls on your prepared baking pan in a 4 x 3 pattern, almost touching. Cover with a clean towel and let rise for another hour or until they have started to rise and touch sides with each other.
- Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- While they are rising, make the mixture for the cross. Mix the water and flour together to form a smooth paste.
- Once the buns are ready for the oven, using a piping bag with a very thin nozzle or zip lock bag with the corner snipped off, squeeze the cross mixture across the buns in both directions to form the cross.
- Place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes and golden brown.
- Bring the apricot jam and water to a boil in a pot. Simmer until thin and runny.
- Glaze the warm buns with the apricot mixture and let cool. Best served the same day.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can soak the raisins in warm water, tea, or rum for 30 minutes before adding to the dough. Ensure your water is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast without killing it.