What do hot cross buns contain? A deep dive into the ingredients

Historically, hot cross buns were often associated with Good Friday celebrations. However, many today simply want to know: what do hot cross buns contain that makes them so uniquely flavourful and comforting? The answer lies in a blend of essential components, each playing a crucial role in its characteristic taste and texture.

Quick Summary

Hot cross buns feature a soft, spiced yeast dough with raisins or currants, often with orange zest. The signature cross is typically a flour paste or icing.

Key Points

• Core Ingredients: Hot cross buns are an enriched, yeasted dough containing milk, butter, and eggs, resulting in a soft and tender crumb.

• Signature Spices: A warming blend of cinnamon, mixed spice, and nutmeg is crucial for the buns' aromatic and distinctive flavour.

• Fruity Filling: Traditional recipes use a mix of currants, raisins, and sultanas, providing sweet and chewy bursts throughout the bun.

• Iconic Cross: The cross is typically made from a flour and water paste piped on before baking, or a sweet icing applied after.

• Glossy Glaze: A final brush of golden syrup, honey, or apricot jam gives the buns their characteristic sweet and shiny finish.

• Modern Twists: While traditional ingredients prevail, variations with chocolate, different fruits, or spices are now common.

The Essential Components of Hot Cross Buns

At its core, a traditional hot cross bun is a yeasted, enriched sweet bun, distinguishable by the flour paste or icing cross on top. Its rich flavour profile comes from a thoughtful combination of spices and dried fruits that evoke a sense of warmth and tradition. While recipes vary across different cultures and bakers, the fundamental building blocks remain consistent.

The Dough

The foundation of any hot cross bun is the soft, pillowy dough. Unlike a simple bread dough, this is an 'enriched' dough, meaning it includes fatty ingredients that make it softer and richer. The core ingredients for the dough include:

• Flour: Strong white bread flour is often preferred for its higher gluten content, which provides the necessary structure to support the enriched dough and the fruit. Some variations might use all-purpose flour for a softer crumb.
• Yeast: Fast-action or instant dried yeast is the leavening agent that gives the buns their light, fluffy texture and helps them rise.
• Milk: Full-fat milk is common, adding richness and moisture to the dough. It can be warmed to activate the yeast.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is kneaded into the dough, contributing to its tender texture and flavour.
• Sugar: Caster or granulated sugar provides sweetness and aids in the caramelisation process during baking.
• Eggs: Beaten eggs contribute to the dough's richness, colour, and overall structure.

The Spices

What truly sets hot cross buns apart is their aromatic spice blend. This mix is what gives the buns their signature scent and taste. The most common spices are:

• Cinnamon: A warming, classic spice that forms the base of the flavour profile.
• Mixed Spice: This is a key British baking ingredient, typically a blend of cinnamon, coriander, caraway, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
• Nutmeg: Adds a nutty, slightly sweet undertone that complements the other spices.
• Orange Zest: Freshly grated orange zest provides a citrusy lift that cuts through the richness and enhances the overall flavour.

The Dried Fruit

Traditional hot cross buns are studded with a mix of dried fruits that add pops of sweetness and a chewy texture. The most common varieties include:

• Sultanas and Raisins: These provide concentrated sweetness and plump up during baking.
• Currants: Offering a slightly tarter flavour, currants are another traditional choice.
• Mixed Peel: Often included for a distinctive, slightly bitter citrus flavour.

The Toppings: Cross and Glaze

The two final touches define the hot cross bun's classic appearance and add a final layer of sweetness and texture.

The Cross

There are two main methods for creating the signature cross:

• Flour Paste: This is a simple mixture of plain flour and water, piped onto the buns before baking. It sets hard and white during cooking.
• Icing: A sweeter alternative, using a simple mix of icing (confectioners') sugar and water. This is piped onto the buns after they have cooled.

The Glaze

After baking, a warm, sweet glaze is brushed over the buns to give them a brilliant shine and extra flavour. Common options include:

• Golden Syrup or Honey: Provides a classic, sticky-sweet coating.
• Apricot Jam: Warmed and sieved, it offers a fruity, glossy finish.

Traditional vs. Modern Variations

While the classic recipe is timeless, modern bakers have introduced creative variations on the classic bun. These often substitute or add to the traditional ingredients.

Feature	Traditional Hot Cross Buns	Modern Hot Cross Buns
Dried Fruit	Currants, raisins, sultanas, mixed peel	Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, chopped apricots
Spices	Cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg	Cardamom, ginger, allspice, or entirely different flavour profiles
Zest	Orange zest	Lemon zest, no zest, or other citrus flavourings
Cross	Flour and water paste	Icing (confectioners' sugar glaze), chocolate drizzle
Base Flavour	Rich, spiced, fruity yeast dough	Chocolate, caramel, apple and cinnamon, coffee

Conclusion

So, what do hot cross buns contain? A combination of pantry staples and aromatic spices that have delighted palates for centuries. From the enriched, yeasted dough to the specific blend of dried fruits and warming spices, each element is carefully chosen to create a treat that is greater than the sum of its parts. The finishing touch of the cross and glaze cements its place as an iconic, timeless baked good enjoyed well beyond its traditional Easter season. While modern versions introduce exciting new flavours, the classic recipe, with its simple yet effective ingredients, remains a cherished favourite for a reason. For those who want to try their hand at making them, a traditional recipe from a trusted source like BBC Good Food can provide the perfect starting point.

Key Ingredients List

• Flour: Strong white or all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure for the buns to rise properly.
• Yeast: This essential ingredient is responsible for the soft, airy texture of the enriched bun dough.
• Spices: A blend of cinnamon, mixed spice, and nutmeg infuses the dough with its signature warm and inviting flavour.
• Dried Fruit: Raisins, currants, and sultanas add bursts of sweet, chewy fruit throughout the bun.
• Cross Topping: The iconic cross is made from a simple flour and water paste or a sweet icing, applied either before or after baking.
• Glaze: A final brush of melted golden syrup, honey, or apricot jam gives the buns a classic shiny finish.

FAQs

Question: Can you make hot cross buns without yeast? Answer: No, traditional hot cross buns require yeast to leaven the dough and achieve their signature fluffy texture. Alternative recipes might use baking powder but will not produce the same result.

Question: What dried fruit is traditionally used in hot cross buns? Answer: A classic hot cross bun contains a mix of dried fruits, most commonly currants, raisins, sultanas, and sometimes mixed peel.

Question: What is the cross on hot cross buns made of? Answer: The cross is typically made from one of two materials: a simple flour and water paste piped on before baking, or an icing made from powdered sugar applied after the buns have cooled.

Question: Are hot cross buns always eaten at Easter? Answer: While traditionally associated with Good Friday and the Easter period, hot cross buns are now widely available in bakeries and supermarkets throughout the year due to their popularity.

Question: Why are hot cross buns so spicy? Answer: The signature flavour comes from a blend of warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and mixed spice. The amount can be adjusted to personal taste, but the spices are key to the traditional bun's flavour profile.

Question: What is an enriched dough? Answer: Enriched dough is a bread dough that includes fatty ingredients such as milk, butter, and eggs. These additions make the dough softer, richer, and more flavourful than standard bread dough.

Question: Can you substitute the dried fruit in hot cross buns? Answer: Yes, modern variations often use alternatives like chocolate chips, chopped apricots, or other dried berries. However, for a traditional flavour, stick with the classic dried fruit mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the key difference between a traditional hot cross bun and a modern one?

The key difference often lies in the fillings and flavour profiles. Traditional buns use a classic mix of mixed spices and dried fruit, whereas modern versions might incorporate chocolate, different fruits, or other adventurous flavours.

What gives hot cross buns their warm flavour?

The warm flavour comes from the specific blend of spices used in the dough, most notably cinnamon, mixed spice, and nutmeg.

Is it better to use flour paste or icing for the cross?

The choice depends on your preference. Flour paste is more traditional and sets firmly during baking, while icing provides a sweeter finish and is added after the buns have cooled.

Can I use plain flour instead of strong white bread flour?

Yes, you can use all-purpose (plain) flour, but strong white bread flour provides a higher gluten content which results in a stronger structure and a more classic fluffy texture.

Why do you use both sugar and dried fruit?

The sugar in the dough provides a base sweetness and aids in browning, while the dried fruit adds concentrated bursts of fruity flavour and a chewy texture.

What is the purpose of the glaze on hot cross buns?

The glaze, typically melted golden syrup or apricot jam, gives the buns a brilliant, shiny finish and adds an extra layer of sweetness.

Why do some hot cross bun recipes use orange zest?

Orange zest adds a bright, citrusy flavour that provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, spiced dough and dried fruit, enhancing the overall taste.