• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kidgredients logo

  • recipes
  • shop
  • about
  • collaborate
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • recipes
  • shop
  • about
  • collaborate
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns

    Published: Mar 4, 2017. Modified: Aug 3, 2022By:Kylie·This post may contain affiliate links·

    Jump to Recipe

    Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns are the yummiest way to enjoy hot cross buns. Made quickly and easily with yeast and plain flour, they are positively delicious served warm or cold. Adding apple and cinnamon to them means they are even more yummy. Kids love the sweetness that the apple and cinnamon add to the buns and being sultana and mixed fruit free there are no nasty surprises in them.

    apple and cinnamon hot cross buns

    Why you're going to love this recipe

    This recipe is perfect for making a double batch and freezing, just warm them in the microwave before eating.

    Here's why you're going to love this recipe:

    • quick and easy to make
    • can be made by hand or with a mixer
    • no sultanas or other pieces in them that kids don't like
    • freezer friendly
    • can be made with the cross on top or leave it blank

    What goes into the recipe

    • yeast- as these are a yeasted hot cross bun, they use yeast! You can buy sachets of it in the supermarket. If you've had your yeast for a while, then it's a good idea to test if it is active. You can do so by dropping some into some lukewarm water. Leave it for 5 or so minutes and check it for frothiness. If it froths, then it's good to go. Yeast can make or break a recipe, so it pays to test it out!
    • plain flour- plain or all purpose flour is used in this recipe because we are using yeast as a rising agent. Self raising flour cannot be used in this recipe.
    • body temperature water- say what? Body temperature- 37º (98.6F) is perfect for making yeast activate. Any hotter and you risk killing the yeast, any cooler and you risk nothing happening.
    • apple- you want to use the apples that you like. Granny smith, pink lady and red delicious all work well in this recipe.
    • cinnamon- ground cinnamon is perfect for use in this recipe.
    • mixed spice- In Australia mixed spice is a sweet, aromatic blend with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Although it contains allspice, it cannot be swapped for allspice.

    How to make this recipe

    This recipe is simple to make, and the main time spent is waiting for it to rise.

    Expert Tips and FAQs

    Can I make these apple and cinnamon hot cross buns without yeast?

    Simply put, no! Yeast is the rising agent in these apple and cinnamon hot cross buns and without it you won't get any rise!

    How can I test if my yeast is working?

    Add I teaspoon of yeast to a cup of body temp (37º C or 98.6F)stir, then leave it for 5 minutes. If it ends up frothy, then it's good. Otherwise, you might need new yeast! Yeast can make or break a bread recipe, so make sure you test your yeast if it has been in the fridge or cupboard for a while.

    What is mixed spice?

    Used in baking, in Australia mixed spice is a sweet, aromatic blend with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Although it contains allspice, it cannot be swapped for allspice. Which is confusing, because mixed spice and all spice are similar names! If you don't have any, use some nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. Cardamon can also be used if you like the flavour of it. mixed spice helps to give a sweetness and depth of flavour to the hot cross buns.

    More delicious baking treats

    We love baking hot cross buns and other sweet treats too- you really should try some of these easy recipes.

    • Hot cross buns- a fail-proof recipe!
    • Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers, made with puff pastry
    • lightly lemony fruit free hot cross buns
    • Chocolate chip hot cross buns (with a gluten free option!)
    images of recipes overlaid with: want more family-friendly recipes?

    Why don't you subscribe to my newsletter, or follow along on Facebook and Instagram? If you make something from the blog please tag @kidgredients on instagram- it really makes my day to see what you've been making!

    apple and cinnamon hot cross buns

    Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns

    These delicious apple and cinnamon hot cross buns have the perfect mix of autumn flavours!
    4.60 from 27 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Modern Australian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 buns
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Kylie
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Buns

    • 1 tablespoon dried yeast
    • 2 tbsps sugar I used raw, use whatever takes your fancy
    • 1 cup body temp water
    • 4 tsps cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon mixed spice
    • 4 cups plain flour
    • 75 grams butter- softened
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 granny smith apple peeled and grated

    Crosses

    • ½ cup plain flour
    • 1 tablespoon raw caster sugar
    • 4 tbsps water

    Glaze

    • 1 teaspoon apricot jam
    • 1 teaspoon water

    Instructions

    • In a jug mix the cup of body temp water, 2 tbsps sugar and the yeast.
    • Allow to rest until frothy.
    • Combine the cinnamon, mixed spice and flour in a bowl.
    • Add the butter and milk to the yeast mixture and pour onto the flour.
    • using a dough hook on your mixer (or do it by hand), knead for 1 minute on low. Add the apple and knead for 3 minutes on medium.
    • Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes to rise.
    • Divide the dough into 12 pieces and knead into balls, then pop into a lined tray, just touching each other. (I used a 33x22.9x5.1 cm pyrex baking dish, - 13x9x2in)
    • Preheat oven to 180 degrees.Allow buns to rise 20 minutes more.
    • Mix the flour, sugar and water to form a paste. Using a piping bag or a ziploc with the corner trimmed off, pipe each row of lines in one go.
    • Bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.
    • Remove from oven and leave in the tray.
    • Warm the apricot jam and use to glaze the tops of the buns.
    • Serve with butter. These freeze well.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bun | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 48mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g
    Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @Kidgredients or tag #kidgredients!
    « Sweet potato macaroni and cheese - a healthy orange cheesy pasta
    Even easier mixed berry cloud jellies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brigit says

      April 16, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      Hi, would strawberry jam taste just as well instead of the apricot jam?

      Reply
      • Kylie says

        April 17, 2020 at 11:20 am

        Yeah, it would taste slightly different, but the same concept!

        Reply
    2. Adele says

      April 10, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Hi! Just wondering if i can sub the plain flour for gluten free plain flour?
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Kylie says

        April 15, 2020 at 8:51 am

        I haven't tried them as gluten free!

        Reply
    3. Wren says

      April 08, 2020 at 3:24 am

      Your recipe calls for 1/2 tsp mixed spice." What is mixed spice?

      Reply
      • Kylie says

        April 09, 2020 at 4:31 pm

        Mixed spice is bought premixed here and in the Uk, a quick google suggests:
        Mixed spice includes a balance of some or all of the following ground spices: cinnamon, coriander seed, caraway, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, and mace.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kylie! What you see on this blog we eat. No smoke and mirrors, just yummy food your whole family will love.
    Read more about me!

    Easy Weeknight Dinners

    • Chicken Taco Rice
    • Curried sausages, the best way to make them
    • The best ever veggie packed chilli con carne- kid friendly!
    • Mango Chicken Curry

    Popular recipes

    • Beef, Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne
    • Rainbow veggie slice
    • Super simple 3 ingredient scones
    • Super easy 3 ingredient flatbreads, no rising!

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Policies

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Intellectual Property

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About me
    • Contact
    • Services
    • FAQ

    featured in, kidspot, bounty parents, daily mail, mouths of mums, mumtastic, foodgawker, families magazine, haven, the organised housewife, she does this

    Copyright © 2021 Kidgredients

    463 shares
    • 159