Easter is just around the corner! And this Hot Cross Bun Loaf recipe is perfect for breakfast or brunch time around this festive period. I am a huge fan of baking projects and Easter buns are one of my favorite things to bake. I make them every year, and you can find this traditional British recipe here. But this year, I decided to make a tweak to the original recipe, and I baked this amazing bun loaf. And my family really loved it!
This fruity loaf is fluffy, soft, and delicately sweet. I have added a handful of cranberries and raisins, chopped hazelnuts, orange zest, and a selection of spices. But feel free to use your favorite dried fruits or nuts. Anyway, this rich loaf would make a perfect food gift to add to your Easter basket too.
To make the Hot Cross Bun Loaf, you will need the following ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine 17.6 ounces flour, ¼ cup sugar,½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 pinch each nutmeg and allspice.
Make a depression in the center and add in 5.75 fluid ounces lukewarm milk. Sprinkle in 0.25 ounces active dry yeast and mix with a wooden spoon. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Add 2 eggs and 2.8 ounces butter.
Knead until you get a smooth dough for about 10 minutes.
Cover and set aside to rise until doubled in size for about 1½-2 hours.
On a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough and sprinkle 5.3 ounces dried fruits, 1.7 ounces chopped hazelnuts, and 2 tablespoons orange zest. Fold and knead the topping into the dough until well combined. Return the dough to the bowl, cover and leave to rise for another 45-60 minutes.
Divide the dough into 8 even pieces and shape each into quite tall rounds. Arrange them side-by-side in a greased loaf pan. Avoid having any fruit or nut pieces on the surface. Cover the dough and let rise for 45-60 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
In a small bowl, mix together 0.9 ounces all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon sunflower oil.
Add in water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is smooth and pourable. Put the mix into a piping bag and pipe a cross on top of each dough ball.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
Remove the loaf from the oven and turn it out onto a wire rack. Brush with orange marmalade. If the marmalade is too thick, add a bit of hot water and whisk.
Slice, serve and enjoy!
Make this delicious Hot Cross Bun Loaf and have a slice or two for Easter breakfast or lunch. If you make this recipe, let us know! And don’t forget to tag a photo #cookmerecipes on Instagram so we can see.
Baking this loaf was so chill! My fam devoured it in no time, tinged with sweet memories of Easter.
Amazing and so delicious! I baked these for Easter breakfast, and my family devoured them in minutes!
Baking this loaf was fun!
Delicious!
Delicious!
Amazing!
Trop bon, sérieux!
OMG, this Hot Cross Bun Loaf is just fab! I tweeked it a lil' with my fav nuts and dried fruits. My fam went bonkers over it at Easter brunch. It's super fluffy and sweet—perfect for that festive vibe. Def makin' this again next year! 🍞💖
Oh my gosh, this Hot Cross Bun Loaf is just brilliant! I baked it for the kiddos last Easter, and they went mental for it! Super easy and delish, I'm buzzing!
Delicious!
Delicious Easter treat
Amazing! Made this for Easter brunch and my husband couldn't stop raving about it. It's a new family tradition!
Superb! I made this for our Easter brunch and it was a hit! My wife loved the cranberries and hazelnuts. It brought back memories of my childhood baking with my mom. Definitely making it again!
OMG, this Hot Cross Bun Loaf is amazzzing! I made it for our Easter brunch, and my kiddos were going wild for it! So soft, fluffy, and the fruity bits are just perf! Plus, I added walnuts like my grandma used to. Totally a hit with the fam! I’ll be makin' this every year for sure!
Reply to Janet Chong:
Hi, Janet! Thank you for paying such great attention to our recipe! The correct amount is 5.3 oz dried fruits. We have updated the recipe.
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