One thing I really enjoy about this time of year is Hot Cross Buns. When we were children, we only really had them on Good Friday, which was quite traditional. These days they are available pretty much all year round, and in a variety of flavors as well. Some being studded with chocolate chips, cherries, and all sorts.
I prefer the traditional and whilst I will don't wait until Good Friday to enjoy them, I generally leave the enjoyment of them to the Easter season. To do otherwise takes away from the pleasure for me. When something becomes every day and common, then it just isn't special anymore. Know what I mean?
Yes, I am very much a traditionalist when it comes to food and specifics, especially when we are talking holidays and celebration types of food. Always a turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and always a Ham for New Years and Easter.
- 1/2 cup (120ml) warm milk
- 1 TBS instant yeast
- 3 TBS (43g) butter, melted and left to cool
- 1/8 cup (20ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups (188g) plain all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp mixed spice (see notes)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup (38g) raisins (I used mixed fruit)
- 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tsp water
- 1/2 cup (60g) icing sugar
- enough milk to make a thick pipeable glaze

Quick and Easy Hot Cross Buns (small batch)
If I had not made these myself I would not have believed how quickly they could be made. Light and fluffy, beautifully flavored, and on the table in not much more than half an hour. I kid you not.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120ml) warm milk
- 1 TBS instant yeast
- 3 TBS (43g) butter, melted
- 1/8 cup (20ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups (188g) plain all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp mixed spice (see notes)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup (38g) raisins (I used mixed fruit)
- 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tsp water
- 1/2 cup (60g) icing sugar
- enough milk to make a thick pipeable glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400*F/200*C/gas mark 6. Line a small baking tray with baking parchment. Set aside.
- Whisk the milk and yeast together in a bowl. Whisk in the egg, melted butter and maple syrup, mixing everything together very well.
- Add the flour, mixed spice and salt. Mix together until you have a shaggy dough. Tip out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Knead gently for about 5 minutes until you have a smooth ball. You may need to add a bit of additional flour if it is too sticky.
- Roll out to a rectangle. Sprinkle the raisins all over the surface of the dough. (You can soak the raisins first in some warm water to plump them but do dry them off well before using.)
- Roll up tightly and then shape into a ball again. Cut into six equal pieces, and shape each piece into a ball.
- Place onto the baking paper, seam side down, leaving a bit of space between each. How much space you leave will determine whether you have soft sides or not.
- Brush the tops with some of the egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. They should be golden brown on the top and bottom. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely.
- Make a thick pipeable glaze with the icing sugar and some milk. (you won't need much milk)
- Pipe this over top of the buns in the iconic cross shape.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Mixed spice is a very common spice mixture used in British baking. You can easily make your own: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container out of the light for up to 6 months.
Did you make this recipe?
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content, and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
- 4 cups (397.5g) white bread flour
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (I use kosher)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated white sugar
- 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk, warmed
- 4 large egg yolks
- 4 TBS butter, softened
- 1 beaten egg for brushing

Easy Brioche Bread
Soft and fluffy with a buttery melt in the mouth texture and a beautiful flavor. It is helpful to have a stand mixer for this recipe, but not necessary if you have the time and will to knead everything together on your own.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (397.5g) white bread flour
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (I use kosher)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated white sugar
- 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk, warmed
- 4 large egg yolks
- 4 TBS butter, softened
- 1 beaten egg for brushing
Instructions
- Stir the yeast into the warm milk and leave it to sit and prove for about 5 minute or so. It should dissolve and get foamy. If you don't have regular dry yeast you can use instant yeast, but it will rise faster.
- Measure the flour, sugar and salt into the bowl of your stand mixer and give it a good whisk together. (You will need the dough hook.)
- Working on low speed, slowly add the yeast mixture. Mix on low for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the egg yolks, one at a time, mixing only until just combined before you add the next one.
- Add the softened butter, 1/2 TBS at a time. Continue mixing on low until the dough starts to come together and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough seems too dry you may need to add a bit more milk. (I did, but you won't and shouldn't need much. This is supposed to be a somewhat stiffish dough.)
- Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 8 to 10 times into a soft dough ball. Spray a large bowl with some baking spray. Add the dough ball, cover tightly with plastic cling film and then set aside in a warm place to rise. It should double in size.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and knock it down. Divide it into 8 equal pieces and shape each into a ball.
- Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf tin with some baking spray and place the dough balls into the tin. Cover with some plastic cling film and set aside in a warm place for a further one hour to rise.
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4. Brush the top of the loaf with the beaten egg.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. The egg wash should be nice and shiny.
- Tip out of the pan onto a wire rack. The bottom should sound a bit hollow when you knock it with your knuckles. Leave to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing to serve.
Did you make this recipe?
True confessions here. I have never had a Belgian Bun before now. They are a very popular yeast bread bun over in the U.K., similar in looks to a cinnamon bun, but that is where any similarity ends. These delicious buns are filled with lemon curd and sultana raisins. Yes, you heard that right, lemon curd.
Now why did I never taste one of these when I was actually living in the U.K? I have no answer to that question. Probably because I am not overly fond of store made buns. Usually, they taste stale to me and I am not fond of stale buns.
This all changes when you make your own from scratch, and to be honest it was not something I had ever considered until . . . one, one of my readers asked me to make them, and two, I discovered they are filled with lemon curd, and I LOVE lemon curd!
- 4 1/2 cups (450g) strong bread flour
- 2 1/2 tsp (7g) fast action yeast
- 6 1/2 TBS (75g) sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 fluid ounces (165ml) warm milk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten (plus extra egg wash to glaze) (1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tsp water)
- 3 1/2 TBS (50g) butter, melted
- 5 TBS lemon curd
- 1 cup (150g) sultana raisins
- 2 cups (260g) icing sugar
- water
- 12 glace cherries
HOW TO MAKE BELGIAN BUNS
I was surprised at just how simple and easy these were to make! I used my bread machine for the dough part which made them even easier. Just follow the instructions as per your model of machine. Otherwise mix, knead, etc. as per the recipe instructions below.
Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the warm milk, butter and egg. Mix all together well until you have a soft dough. If it feels a bit too sticky or wet you can add 1 TBS flour.
Tip out onto a lightly floured board and knead gently until the dough feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and put into a large, lightly floured bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for one hour or until doubled in size.
Line a large baking tray with some baking parchment.
Knock the dough back and then lightly roll it out to a rectangle which measures 12 by 18 inches.
Brush one long edge with egg wash. Spread the lemon curd over the remainder of the dough. Sprinkle with the raisins.
Roll the dough up tightly from one long edge towards the egg wash brushed edge, like a jelly roll to form a long log, pinching the edge shut along the egg wash.
Using a sharp knife cut into 12 equal pieces and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic cling film and set in a warm place to rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled in size.
Pre-heat the oven to 400*F/200*C/gas mark 6.
Once the oven is heated remove the cling film from the rolls. Brush the tops with some egg wash and then bang the baking sheet into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Bake for a further 10 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
Whisk the icing sugar together with enough cold water to give you a thick white icing. Spoon this over top of the cooled rolls and top each with a glace cherry.
Store any leftovers in a tightly covered container. You can freeze these, but do so before frosting.
This was the second time I had actually baked these. I was not happy with the first ones I made. From another recipe, I hasten to add. These turned out lovely, with a beautiful texture and taste. Not at all hard to do either, I confess to making the dough in my bread machine and leaving it for the first proving in the machine.
After that it was an easy roll out, topping/filling, cutting and leaving to rise again, prior to baking to perfection. I quite enjoyed these. I took half of them to my next-door neighbor who was thrilled beyond measure. Beautiful with a hot drink.
Do note, these are best eaten on the day.

Belgian Buns
A traditional yeast bun, filled with lemon curd and plenty of sultana raisins. Beautiful served fresh along with a hot drink.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups (450g) strong bread flour
- 2 1/2 tsp (7g) fast action yeast
- 6 1/2 TBS (75g) sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 fluid ounces (165ml) warm milk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten (plus extra egg wash to glaze) (1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tsp water)
- 3 1/2 TBS (50g) butter, melted
- 5 TBS lemon curd
- 1 cup (150g) sultana raisins
- 2 cups (260g) icing sugar
- water
- 12 glace cherries
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the warm milk, butter and egg. Mix all together well until you have a soft dough. If it feels a bit too sticky or wet you can add 1 TBS flour.
- Tip out onto a lightly floured board and knead gently until the dough feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and put into a large, lightly floured bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for one hour or until doubled in size.
- Line a large baking tray with some baking parchment.
- Knock the dough back and then lightly roll it out to a rectangle which measures 12 by 18 inches.
- Brush one long edge with egg wash. Spread the lemon curd over the remainder of the dough. Sprinkle with the raisins.
- Roll the dough up tightly from one long edge towards the egg wash brushed edge, like a jelly roll to form a long log, pinching the edge shut along the egg wash.
- Using a sharp knife cut into 12 equal pieces and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic cling film and set in a warm place to rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled in size.
- Pre-heat the oven to 400*F/200*C/gas mark 6.
- Once the oven is heated remove the cling film from the rolls. Brush the tops with some egg wash and then bang the baking sheet into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Bake for a further 10 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
- Whisk the icing sugar together with enough cold water to give you a thick white icing. Spoon this over top of the cooled rolls and top each with a glace cherry.
- Store any leftovers in a tightly covered container. You can freeze these, but do so before frosting.
Social Icons