Recipe

Best ever choc-chip hot cross buns

Traditionalists may scorn at the inclusion of chocolate in this best ever hot cross bun recipe, but we think there is a place for the humble choc-chip. Either way, enjoy them hot from the oven with lashings of butter.

Feb 17, 2019 4:00pm
  • 20 mins cooking
  • Makes 20 Item
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Ingredients

Best ever choc-chip hot cross buns
  • 4 teaspoon (14g) dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup (75g) caster (superfine) sugar
  • 1 cup (250ml) warm milk
  • 4 cup (600g) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 80 gram (2½ ounces) butter, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup (185g) dark choc bits
  • 1 egg, beaten lightly
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) warm water, approximately
  • 1/4 cup (35g) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 1 tablespoon sifted cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoon caster (superfine) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) cold water, approximately
  • 1 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon powdered gelatine
  • 1 tablespoon water

Method

Best ever choc-chip hot cross buns
  • 1
    Whisk yeast with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and milk in a small bowl until yeast dissolves. Cover; stand in a warm place 10 minutes or until yeast mixture is frothy.
  • 2
    Sift flour, spices and salt into a large bowl; rub in butter with your fingertips. Stir in remaining sugar, chocolate chips, yeast mixture, egg and enough of the water to make a soft dough. Cover bowl with oiled plastic wrap; stand in a warm place 1 hour or until mixture has doubled in size.
  • 3
    Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Divide into 20 portions. One at a time, place hand over a portion of dough and, using a circular motion, roll into a ball. Place balls, almost touching, on a large greased oven tray. Stand in a warm place 20 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
  • 4
    Preheat oven to 220°C/400°F.
  • 5
    Make flour paste by sifting flour, cocoa and sugar into a small bowl; gradually stir in enough of the water to make a smooth, thick paste. Place paste into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tube; pipe crosses onto buns.
  • 6
    Bake buns 20 minutes or until they sound hollow when tapped.
  • 7
    Meanwhile, to make glaze, stir ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat, without boiling, until dissolved.
  • 8
    Transfer buns to a wire rack; brush hot buns with hot glaze.

Notes

To help with proving on a cold day, preheat your oven to 100°C/200°F. Open the oven door and place a chopping board on the door. Place the bowl of yeast mixture in step 1 on the chopping board ­ this will serve as a `warm place' to activate the yeast. You can also do this to prove the bowl of kneaded dough in step 2. To make a quick piping bag, snip the corner off a resealable plastic bag.

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