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Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns

Our remix on an Easter classic.

By Emma Knowles
  • 45 mins preparation
  • 50 mins cooking plus cooling, proving
  • Serves 20
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Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns
The mix of candied apple and dried apple combined with a sticky cinnamon glaze provides a new twist on an old favourite. These buns are equally good served warm on the day of baking, or several days later, toasted, with lashings of butter.

Ingredients

  • 325 gm raw caster sugar
  • 1 lemon
  • 1½ Granny Smith apples, unpeeled, cored, diced
  • 1 cinnamon quill
  • 750 gm (5 cups) plain flour
  • 150 gm sultanas or golden raisins
  • 50 gm dried apple, diced
  • 30 gm candied orange, diced
  • 14 gm (2 sachets) dried yeast
  • 3½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • Finely grated rind of 1 orange and 1 lemon
  • 380 ml milk
  • 100 gm butter, coarsely chopped
  • 1 egg

Method

Main
  • 1
    Combine 260gm sugar and 375ml water in a saucepan, then squeeze in juice of half a lemon and stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Meanwhile, cut remaining lemon half into 5mm-thick slices, add to pan with Granny Smith apple and cinnamon quill. Bring to the simmer, reduce heat to medium and cook until lemon and apple are translucent (20-25 minutes). Strain, reserving fruit and syrup separately. When cool enough to handle, dice lemon, combine with apple and set aside.
  • 2
    Combine 700gm flour, sultanas, dried apple, candied orange, yeast, 3 tsp ground cinnamon, allspice, rinds, remaining sugar, reserved apple mixture and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan, warm over low heat until butter melts and mixture is lukewarm. Whisk in egg, then add milk mixture to flour, stirring to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes). Place in a lightly buttered bowl, cover and stand in a warm place until doubled in size (30-40 minutes).
  • 3
    Knock back dough, divide into 20 even pieces, then knead each piece into a smooth ball. Arrange dough balls into two concentric circles on a large round or rectangular baking tray lined with baking paper, leaving 1cm between each for dough to expand. Cover with a tea towel and stand in a warm place until doubled in size (30-40 minutes).
  • 4
    Preheat oven to 220C. Combine remaining flour and 70ml cold water in a bowl and stir to a smooth paste. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small plain nozzle and pipe a cross shape onto each bun. Bake for 10 minutes, reduce oven to 200C and bake until golden and buns sound hollow when tapped (8-10 minutes).
  • 5
    Meanwhile, combine reserved syrup and remaining ground cinnamon in a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until syrupy and combined. Brush thickly over hot buns, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.