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Soft and Fluffy Hot Cross Buns Recipe with Easy Vanilla Glaze

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These soft and fluffy hot cross buns are a comforting treat with a pillowy texture and a smooth vanilla glaze. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or holiday mornings, they are easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet/7g) active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, warm (about 110°F/43°C)
  • 4 tbsp (56g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ¾ cup (110g) mixed dried fruit (currants, raisins, or chopped dried apricots)
  • ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour (for crosses)
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) water (for crosses)
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted (for vanilla glaze)
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) whole milk (for vanilla glaze)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (for vanilla glaze)

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast by stirring warm milk (110°F/43°C) with 1 tsp sugar and active dry yeast in a small bowl. Let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk to distribute evenly.
  3. Add melted butter, egg, and activated yeast mixture to dry ingredients. Stir to form a shaggy dough.
  4. Knead dough by hand on a floured surface for 10-12 minutes or with a stand mixer dough hook for 5-6 minutes until soft, smooth, and slightly tacky.
  5. Gently knead in dried fruit until evenly distributed.
  6. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with damp towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.
  7. Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal portions (~70g each). Shape into smooth balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
  8. Cover buns loosely and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
  9. Mix ½ cup flour with water to make a thick paste. Pipe crosses over each bun using a pastry bag or ziplock bag.
  10. Bake buns at 375°F (190°C) for 18-22 minutes until golden brown and springy.
  11. While baking, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth to make glaze.
  12. Brush vanilla glaze generously over hot buns as soon as they come out of the oven. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

If dough feels sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time. Use warm milk at about 110°F to activate yeast properly. Let egg come to room temperature before mixing. For dairy-free, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and butter with coconut oil. Glaze buns while warm for best moisture retention.

Nutrition

Keywords: hot cross buns, soft buns, fluffy buns, vanilla glaze, Easter buns, homemade buns, easy baking, dried fruit buns

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/soft-and-fluffy-hot-cross-buns-recipe-with-easy-vanilla-glaze-step-by-step/