Name: Chocolate chunk hot cross buns
Prep time: 120 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 150 min
Yield: 20
Ingredients: 500 g flour; 20 g dry yeast; 100 g sugar; 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon cloves; pinch of salt; 50 g butter (melted); 2 large eggs; 250 ml full cream milk; 1 cup approximately 150g dark chocolate, roughly chopped; 1 cup raisins; 5 tablespoons flour; 3-4 tablespoons water; ½ cup sugar; ½ cup water

Chocolate chunk hot cross buns

By Alida Ryder

Posted March 27, 2019

In Baked Goods, Bread, Breakfast, Recipes, Vegetarian

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This extra-spicy, chocolate chunk hot cross buns recipe is perfect for Easter and the dough can be made ahead to save time in the kitchen.

I don’t get people who don’t like hot cross buns. In no way am I a fan of raisins but there is something about them that get me so excited. Eaten as is, toasted then slathered in butter, left to go stale then drenched in custard and baked and served with even more custard, I want them all. I bake a batch of these spiced, sweet buns every year around Easter but this year I decided to amp it up a little.

I added a lot of chocolate chunks to these buns because chocolate makes everything better. If you don’t like raisins, you could omit the raisins and just add chocolate but I kind of like the fruity burst of sweetness the raisins add, especially with the addition of bitter dark chocolate.

There is just simply nothing as wonderful as having a hot, straight-from-the-oven hot cross bun with a cup of coffee for Easter breakfast or brunch so add these to your must-make list. You won’t be disappointed.

How to make hot cross buns

Combine flour, yeast, sugar and spices then mix in milk, eggs, melted butter and sugar and knead until a smooth dough forms. Place in a bowl and cover and allow to rise for 1 hour. When the dough has proofed, knead in the raisins and chocolate chunks then allow to rise for another 30 minutes. Form the dough into buns just smaller than tennis balls (they will rise more in the oven) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Mix together flour and water and pipe crosses on the top of the buns. Bake until golden brown and cooked through then brush with simple syrup for shine. Serve warm with butter.

What do you eat hot cross buns with?

They are best eaten warm with butter. Hot cross buns are also excellent sliced and toasted.

Do you warm up hot cross buns?

If you using store-bought, I would definitely recommend heating them up before serving them. The easiest way is to toast them but you can also wrap them in foil and warm them up in the oven for a few minutes.

More Easter recipes you will love:

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4.82 from 22 votes

Chocolate chunk hot cross buns

This extra-spicy, chocolate chunk hot cross buns recipe is perfect for Easter and the dough can be made ahead to save time in the kitchen.

Course Baking

Cuisine Baking

Keyword Chocolate hot cross buns, Easter recipe, Hot cross buns

Prep Time 2 hours

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Servings

Calories 203kcal

Author Alida Ryder

Ingredients

500 g flour
20 g dry yeast
100 g sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
pinch of salt
50 g butter melted
2 large eggs
250 ml full cream milk
1 cup approximately 150g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup raisins

for the crosses

5 tablespoons flour
3-4 tablespoons water

for the glaze

½ cup sugar
½ cup water

Instructions

Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, spices and salt in a bowl and mix until combined.
In a measuring jug, whisk together the melted butter, eggs and milk then pour into the dry ingredients.
Mix until a sticky, soft dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
Place the dough into a bowl and cover with clingfilm and allow to rise for 1 hour
When the dough has risen, remove from the bowl and knead in the raisins and chocolate. Return to the bowl, cover and allow to rise for another 30 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Form dough balls roughly the size of golf balls out of the risen dough and place on the prepared baking tray.
Mix together the flour and water and pipe crosses onto the buns.
Allow to rise for another 30 minutes then place in the pre-heated oven.
Allow to bake for 25-30 minutes until the hot cross buns are golden brown and cooked through.
While the buns are baking, combine the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan and allow to come to a boil.
When the buns have baked, remove them from the oven and immediately brush the glaze over the top.
Allow to cool slightly before serving with butter.

Nutrition

Easter Candy bark

baking, baking recipes, brioche, chocolate hot cross buns, Easter, Easter recipes, hot cross bun recipe, hot cross buns

Alida Ryder

Being a general food freak has proven to be quite helpful in this career I've found myself in. Author of two cookbooks, photographer, food stylist. Mom to twins. Ex make-up and hair artist obsessed with beautiful clothes and spaces. I love a good G&T and I've been known to spend too much money on shoes.

Chocolate chunk hot cross buns

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This extra-spicy, chocolate chunk hot cross buns recipe is perfect for Easter and the dough can be made ahead to save time in the kitchen.

How to make hot cross buns

What do you eat hot cross buns with?

Do you warm up hot cross buns?

More Easter recipes you will love: