What Are Hot Cross Buns? Everything You Need To Know About This Global Easter Staple

If you’ve ever walked past a bakery around Easter time, the sweet scent of freshly baked hot cross buns is likely to have caught your attention. These spiced buns are marked with a simple cross on top, making them distinctive. But there’s more to these buns than just their irresistible flavour. They carry centuries of history, symbolism, and traditions. So, let’s take a journey into the world of hot cross buns and explore what makes them so special!

Hot Cross Buns, A Deliciously Rich Tradition

At their core, hot cross buns are sweet, spiced buns typically made with flour, sugar, butter, milk, and yeast. The buns are soft, slightly sweet, and incredibly aromatic, making them a favourite during the Easter season. The defining feature, of course, is the cross, usually piped on the top.

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, marking the end of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection in Christianity. The cross on top symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while the spices inside the buns are said to represent the spices used to embalm Jesus’s body after his death.

Hot cross buns date back farther than you’d think. However, the modern-day hot cross bun as we know it is most closely tied to the English town of St Albans. In 1361, a Christian monk named Brother Thomas Rodcliffe baked buns for the poor in the region, which became known as the “Alban Bun.”

By the 16th century, buns were so beloved that Queen Elizabeth I actually tried to limit their sale; you could only buy them on Good Friday, Christmas, or at funerals. Why? Because these spiced buns were considered sacred. But rules only made them more popular, and by the 18th century, the famous rhyme “One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns!” had become iconic in London.

While the traditional hot cross bun remains a classic favourite, different regions have come up with their own creative twists. The UK’s major supermarkets often produce variations like toffee, orange-cranberry, and salted caramel. Aussies have gotten even more experimental with their versions, incorporating flavours like chocolate chip and sour cherry.

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Making Your Own Easter Treat At Home

Here’s a simple recipe to bring this centuries-old tradition into your kitchen:

Ingredients:

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 75g caster sugar
• 10g salt
• 10g ground cinnamon
• 7g yeast
• 300ml milk
• 50g butter
• 2 large eggs
• 300g mixed dried fruit (raisins or currants)
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

For the cross:

• 75g plain flour
• Water (as needed to form a paste)

Method:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and add them to the dry ingredients. Add the yeast, milk, and butter and knead until you have a soft dough.
2. Once your dough has formed, mix in the dried fruit and orange zest. Continue kneading for a couple of minutes to evenly distribute the fruit.
3. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
4. Punch down the dough, then divide it into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
5. Cover the tray with a cloth and allow the buns to rise for another hour until puffed up.
6. Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). To make the cross, mix the plain flour with a little water to form a thick paste. Transfer it to a piping bag and pipe a cross over each bun.
7. Brush the buns with a beaten egg and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Once the buns are out of the oven, brush sugar glaze over them while they’re still warm.

So, next time you sink your teeth into a hot cross bun, you’ll know that there’s much more than meets the eye.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva