Name: Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h 55 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1/4 cup apple juice or water; 1/2 cup dried apricots, cranberries, cherries, or blueberries; 1/2 cup dried currants or raisins; 1 1/4 cups whole milk, room temperature; 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk (save the white for the egg wash); 6 Tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature; 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 Tablespoon orange zest (from 1 orange); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 1/2 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour; 1 large egg white reserved from above; 2 teaspoons water; 2 Tablespoons apricot jam or preserves; 1 Tablespoon water; 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; Pinch of salt; 1-2 Tablespoons milk (or enough to make a thick, pipeable icing)

There’s something utterly comforting about the smell of freshly baked spiced buns filling your kitchen, and this Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe is exactly that kind of magic. Soft, fluffy, packed with juicy dried fruits, and finished with a glossy glaze and a sweet icing cross—it just feels like springtime in every bite.

A close-up view of a metal baking tray filled with twelve golden-brown hot cross buns arranged in three rows of four. Each bun has a smooth, shiny surface with a slightly dark toasted top, showing small dark spots from raisins or currants inside the bread. White icing crosses form a neat grid pattern over the buns, with three horizontal and four vertical lines covering the top. The tray sits on a textured white marbled surface, and soft natural light highlights the warm color and texture of the buns. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly couldn’t wait to share this Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe because it’s a classic that’s easy enough to make at home but feels like a bakery treat. The combination of warming spices and soft fruit-filled dough is endlessly satisfying and has become a favorite in my household.

Perfectly Soft Buns: The dough is enriched with butter and eggs, making the buns wonderfully tender and soft.
Loads of Flavor: Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom infuse every bite with traditional, cozy warmth.
Customizable Fruit Mix: You can switch up the dried fruits based on what you have on hand or your personal favorites.
Show-Stopping Presentation: The shiny apricot glaze and piped icing crosses look impressive, perfect for sharing with family or friends.

The image shows a metal tray filled with 16 golden brown buns arranged in a 4 by 4 grid. Each bun is soft and slightly shiny with a smooth top, and some have small dark spots which look like raisins. A white icing forms a cross pattern over the buns, creating a grid that matches the bun arrangement. The tray sits on a white marbled surface, with a few dried apricots scattered on the left side and part of a white cloth with a black check pattern visible on the right side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe plays a special role—from the juice that softens the fruit to the warm spices that make the buns smell heavenly. Stocking quality vanilla and fresh spices makes a noticeable difference.

Flat lay of dried apricots, dried currants, a small white bowl of apple juice, a small white bowl of whole milk, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small pile of salted butter, a small white bowl of granulated sugar, a small white bowl of orange zest, a small white bowl of vanilla extract, small piles of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground cardamom, a small white bowl of salt, a small pile of bread flour, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, a small white bowl of apricot jam, a small white bowl of milk, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Apple juice or water: Used to soften the dried fruits for maximum juiciness and flavor infusion.
Dried fruit (apricots, currants, cranberries, cherries, blueberries): Mix and match your favorite dried fruits for a burst of texture and sweetness.
Whole milk: Adds richness and helps activate the yeast for a perfect rise.
Eggs (plus egg yolk): Help bind the dough while enhancing softness and color.
Salted butter: Adds tenderness and flavor—room temperature ensures it blends in smoothly.
Active dry yeast: Responsible for that lovely yeast rise and fluffy crumb in your buns.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough while feeding the yeast.
Orange zest: Brightens the flavor, cutting through the sweetness and spice with citrus notes.
Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle warmth and depth to the dough’s flavor.
Ground cinnamon, cloves (or allspice), nutmeg, cardamom: Together, these spices create the signature hot cross bun aroma.
Salt: Balances sweetness and strengthens dough structure.
Bread or all-purpose flour: Bread flour will make the buns chewier, while all-purpose flour keeps them lighter—both work well.
Egg white + water (egg wash): For that gorgeous shiny, golden finish on your buns.
Apricot jam + water (glaze): Adds a glossy finish and a touch of extra sweetness.
Powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, milk (icing): Creates a thick, pipeable icing perfect for the iconic cross decoration.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the things I love most about this Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe is just how adaptable it is. You can easily tweak the spice blend or swap out fruits to suit your taste—making it truly your own.

Fruit Variations: Sometimes I swap cranberries for cherries or blueberries depending on the season, and it always feels fresh and exciting.
Spice Adjustments: If you prefer less heat, omit the cloves or allspice and stick with cinnamon and nutmeg only for a milder profile.
Dietary Tweaks: For dairy-free versions, use plant-based milk and vegan butter substitutes—you'll still get soft buns but with a different richness.
Gluten-Free: While this recipe shines with wheat flour, experimenting with a gluten-free bread flour blend can work if you’re up for a little kitchen adventure.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Step 1: Soften Your Fruit

Pop your dried apricots and currants (or your chosen mix) into a microwave-safe bowl with the apple juice or water. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds. This steams the fruit, making them softer and juicier, so they’re lovely inside the buns. Let them sit while you get the dough going.

Step 2: Proof the Yeast

Warm your milk until it’s just a little hotter than lukewarm—around 45 seconds in the microwave usually does the trick. Stir in a teaspoon of sugar and the active dry yeast, then give it 5 to 10 minutes to get bubbly and foamy. This means the yeast is happy and ready to make your buns rise beautifully.

Step 3: Mix and Knead the Dough

In your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the proofed yeast, eggs, sugar, spices, orange zest, vanilla, salt, and two cups of flour. Mix just until everything starts coming together, then switch to the dough hook. Gradually add the rest of your flour while kneading. Next, knead in your softened butter tablespoon by tablespoon, letting the dough absorb it slowly. This process takes about 7-8 minutes, and the dough should feel soft, elastic, and a bit sticky. If it gets too sticky to handle, add a little more flour, but try to keep it as light as possible for the softest buns.

Step 4: Incorporate the Fruit

Time to fold in that softened fruit along with any extra soaking liquid to keep the buns moist. The dough hook might not do this perfectly, so don’t be shy about turning it over by hand once or twice to evenly distribute the fruit.

Step 5: First Rise

Pop your dough into a large greased bowl, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and set it somewhere warm—like near a sunny window or behind the stove. It may take 1-2 hours to rise and might not double in size completely because of the butter and fruit, but it should be nice and puffy.

Step 6: Shape Buns and Second Rise

Gently turn the dough onto a floured surface and cut it into 12 even pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath. Place them in a greased 9×13 inch pan, cover loosely, and let rise another 30 to 60 minutes, until they’re puffy and just touching.

Step 7: Bake with an Egg Wash

Heat your oven to 375°F. Just before baking, brush the tops of the buns with a mix of the reserved egg white and water—this gives a beautiful shiny golden crust. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and cooked through, but be careful not to overbake or the buns will dry out.

Step 8: Glaze and Ice

While still warm, brush the buns with warmed apricot jam thinned with water for that irresistible shine. As they cool just a bit, mix your icing to a pipeable consistency and pipe crosses over each bun with a zip-top bag snipped at the corner. That’s the signature look that makes these buns unmistakable!

Top Tip

From my many attempts baking Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe, I’ve learned that precise kneading and managing the dough’s stickiness make all the difference between "meh" and bakery-worthy buns. Here are some nuggets I swear by:

Butter in Small Doses: Adding softened butter one tablespoon at a time lets the dough absorb it fully, preventing greasy spots or tough texture.
Don’t Overflour: A slightly sticky dough is key to soft buns. Resist the urge to keep adding flour unless absolutely necessary.
Proof Your Yeast: Always make sure your yeast blooms nicely before adding it in—that foamy sign means your buns will rise well.
Warm, Not Hot: When warming milk or fruits, aim for warm temperatures—not boiling—to preserve yeast activity and fruit texture.

How to Serve Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple—just a dusting of powdered sugar if I haven't iced them yet or a slab of butter melting on a warm bun is pure bliss. Sometimes I sprinkle a little extra orange zest on top of the glaze for an aromatic twist.

Side Dishes

These buns pair wonderfully with a hot cup of chai tea or coffee. On a lazy weekend brunch, I like serving them alongside scrambled eggs or a light fruit salad to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange the buns in a circle on a pretty platter, then drizzle extra icing in a lattice pattern on top. Adding a sprig of fresh mint or edible flowers around the plate instantly dresses them up—guests always ask for the recipe!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I pop leftovers into an airtight container at room temperature and eat them within two days. If they start to lose freshness, a quick zap in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel helps bring back softness.

Freezing

These buns freeze beautifully! After they’ve cooled, I wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, just thaw at room temperature and warm for 10-15 seconds in the microwave or oven.

Reheating

To reheat, wrap a bun in a damp paper towel and microwave on medium power for 10-15 seconds to revive softness. For a crispy crust, a quick 3-5 minute warm-up in the oven works beautifully. Avoid overheating or the buns dry out quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this recipe without dried fruit?

While dried fruit gives these buns their classic texture and sweetness, you can swap them for chocolate chips or nuts if preferred, but it won’t be the traditional hot cross bun flavor.

What’s the best way to shape hot cross buns?

Shape each piece of dough into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath to create tension on the surface. This helps them rise evenly and have a pretty smooth top.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make the dough and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Just bring it back to room temperature before shaping and baking. This slow ferment develops extra flavor.

How do I know when the buns are fully baked?

They should be golden brown on top and sound hollow when tapped underneath. You can also check with an instant-read thermometer—the internal temperature should be about 190°F (88°C).

Final Thoughts

I genuinely hope you give this Warm Fruit Hot Cross Buns Recipe a try because it has brought me so many joyful baking moments. They’re a perfect treat for any time of day and a wonderful way to bring a little seasonal magic into your kitchen. Once you make them, I’m sure these buns will have a special place in your baking rotation too!