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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns
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.
Brigit says
Hi, would strawberry jam taste just as well instead of the apricot jam?
Kylie says
Yeah, it would taste slightly different, but the same concept!
Adele says
Hi! Just wondering if i can sub the plain flour for gluten free plain flour?
Thanks
Kylie says
I haven't tried them as gluten free!
Wren says
Your recipe calls for 1/2 tsp mixed spice." What is mixed spice?
Kylie says
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.