Chef John's Hot Cross Buns

Chef John's Hot Cross Buns
  • 1/4 cup dried currants
  • 1/4 cup rum, or as needed to cover currants
  • 3/4 cup milk, warmed to 100 degrees F/40 degrees C
  • 3 cups bread flour, divided, or as needed
  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 5 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 7 tablespoons melted butter
  • Crosses:
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, or as needed to make thin, pipe-able dough
  • Glaze:
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water


  1. Place currants in a small bowl. Heat rum until steaming in a small pan and pour over currants to soften them, about 2 hours. Drain; reserve liquid for another use.
  2. Whisk warm milk, 1/4 cup flour, and yeast together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit about 15 minutes to ensure yeast is active; small bubbles should start to rise to the surface. Add sugar, beaten egg, lemon and orange zest, cinnamon, salt, cardamom, nutmeg, melted butter, and most of the remaining flour (you might not need it all). Mix with a dough hook attachment until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and becomes slightly elastic, 5 or 6 minutes. Continue kneading until dough is soft and shiny, about 10 minutes. Remove dough from dough hook and shape into a ball. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface.
  3. Flatten dough into a large oval about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle currants evenly over surface of dough. Fold dough into thirds. Turn and fold into thirds again. Reshape dough into a round ball. Transfer to lightly oiled mixing bowl. Cover and let rise in a relatively warm, draft-free place until double in size, about 2 hours.
  4. Poke dough down a bit with your fingertips. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Flatten out dough into an even shape. Divide into 16 equal pieces using a bench scraper.
  5. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
  6. Roll each piece of dough into a round ball. Arrange evenly on prepared baking sheet. Let rise 15 minutes.
  7. Mix 1/4 cup water and 1/3 cup flour together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to pipe. Transfer mixture to a piping bag.
  8. After buns have risen 15 minutes, pipe a cross on top of each. Let rise until doubled from original dough balls, another 15 or 20 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  10. Transfer pan to preheated oven. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
  11. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to thicken, or until it reaches a temperature of 225 degrees F. Remove from heat.
  12. Let buns cool on a rack for 5 minutes before glazing. Brush glaze lightly over the tops of the buns.

04/16/2018
Chef John's Hot Cross Buns, recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

Comment on this content
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Place baguette..
4.1
7204
ginger beer
ginger beer
Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to..
3.9
5557
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-i..
4.4
4343
asparagus summer soup
asparagus summer soup
Cut asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces; reserve tips in a b..
3.4
4162
caribbean sangria
caribbean sangria
Place orange slices, peach slices, lemon slices, and lime sl..
4.2
4268
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken ..
3.7
4316
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl..
2.9
5279
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread olive ..
2.1
4796
flourless triple chocolate cookies
flourless triple chocolate cookies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 2 bakin..
3.4
4613
Chef John's Hot Dog Buns
Chef John's Hot Dog Buns
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.P..
913
Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns
Put warm water, butter, skim milk powder, 1/4 cup sugar, sal..
5
1457
British Hot Cross Buns
British Hot Cross Buns
Heat milk in a small saucepan to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C..
1030
Julia's Hot Cross Buns
Julia's Hot Cross Buns
Place milk, 3/8 cup water, egg, salt, white sugar, butter or..
739
Easter Hot Cross Buns
Easter Hot Cross Buns
Stir 1/4 cup milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar together in a..
994
Pull-Apart Hot Cross Buns
Pull-Apart Hot Cross Buns
Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let stand until d..
0
1282
Easter Buttermilk Hot Cross Buns
Easter Buttermilk Hot Cross Buns
Measure the water into a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast o..
746