Hot Cross Buns Orange Glaze (Printable)
Soft spiced buns studded with raisins and finished with a fragrant orange glaze.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 packet (7 g) active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
08 - 1 cup whole milk, lukewarm
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1 cup raisins
12 - Zest of 1 orange
→ Cross Paste
13 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
14 - 5-6 tbsp water
→ Orange Glaze
15 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
16 - 2-3 tbsp fresh orange juice
# How to Make:
01 - In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice until well blended.
02 - Form a well in the center of the dry mixture. Pour in lukewarm milk, melted butter, and cracked egg. Mix thoroughly until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 8 to 10 minutes until the texture becomes smooth and elastic.
04 - Gently work the raisins and orange zest into the dough, ensuring even distribution throughout.
05 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and set in a warm location for 1 hour until doubled in volume.
06 - Punch down the risen dough and divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece into a smooth ball and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing 2 inches between each bun.
07 - Cover the shaped buns and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes until visibly puffy and expanded.
08 - Set oven temperature to 375°F while buns complete their final rise.
09 - Whisk flour with water until a thick, pipeable paste forms. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or makeshift plastic bag with corner snipped off.
10 - Pipe a neat cross shape over the top of each risen bun using the flour paste.
11 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until buns achieve a rich golden-brown color and sound hollow when tapped.
12 - While buns bake, whisk powdered sugar with fresh orange juice until smooth and drizzle-consistent.
13 - Immediately brush the hot buns with orange glaze upon removing from oven to ensure proper absorption and sheen.
14 - Allow buns to cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange glaze transforms these from ordinary buns into something genuinely special
- They reheat beautifully so you can make them ahead for lazy weekend mornings
02 -
- The cross paste needs to be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to pipe smoothly
- Glazing the buns while they are still hot helps the coating set properly
03 -
- Soak the raisins in warm orange juice for 15 minutes before adding them to the dough
- Use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off if you do not have a piping bag