Why You’ll Love Cranberry White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Recipe
These buns are wonderfully soft with a lightly sweet dough and a delicious balance of creamy white chocolate and chewy cranberries. They are easy to prepare with simple pantry ingredients and taste amazing served warm with butter or jam. The classic cross topping gives them a beautiful traditional touch while the white chocolate adds a modern twist.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
520 g plain flour (all-purpose flour)
100 g white granulated sugar
2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast or active dry yeast
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon all spice
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
300 ml whole milk
57 g unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
¾ cup white chocolate chips
¾ cup dried cranberries
1 egg yolk
Dash of water
75 g plain flour
⅓ cup water
Directions
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, cinnamon, salt, allspice, and nutmeg.
In a saucepan over low to medium heat, warm half of the milk with the butter until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining milk.
Add the milk mixture and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix lightly. Add the egg and continue mixing.
Using a dough hook, knead the dough on low to medium speed for 6 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should remain slightly sticky. If kneading by hand, knead for about 10 minutes.
Add the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, kneading until evenly distributed.
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning it once to coat in oil. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1½ hours or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced) or 395°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish or tray with baking paper.
Turn the dough onto a surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
Arrange the dough balls evenly in the prepared baking dish. Cover with a clean towel and let rise again for about 30 minutes until puffy.
Whisk together the egg yolk and a small dash of water. Brush lightly over the buns.
Mix the remaining flour and water into a smooth paste. Transfer to a piping bag or sandwich bag with the corner snipped off, then pipe crosses over the buns.
Bake for 25 to 27 minutes until golden brown.
Allow the buns to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm, at room temperature, or toasted with butter, jam, or fruit curd.
Servings and timing
Servings: 12 buns
Prep time: 30 minutes
Rise time: 2 hours
Bake time: 25–27 minutes
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Variations
Replace the dried cranberries with raisins, currants, or chopped dried cherries.
Use dark or milk chocolate chips instead of white chocolate.
Add orange zest to the dough for a bright citrus flavor.
Top the buns with a simple sugar glaze after baking for extra sweetness.
Mix chopped nuts into the dough for added texture.
Storage/Reheating
Store the buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
To reheat, warm the buns in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or toast lightly until heated through.
FAQs
Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?
Yes, active dry yeast works well. You may want to let it bloom in warm milk first before mixing.
Why is my dough sticky?
This dough is naturally soft and slightly sticky, which helps create fluffy buns. Avoid adding too much extra flour.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can refrigerate the dough overnight after the first rise and bake the buns the next day.
Can I use fresh cranberries?
Dried cranberries are recommended because fresh cranberries release too much moisture into the dough.
How do I know when the buns are done baking?
The tops should be golden brown and the buns should sound slightly hollow when tapped.
Can I freeze baked hot cross buns?
Yes, baked buns freeze very well. Wrap them tightly before freezing.
What can I serve with hot cross buns?
They taste delicious with butter, jam, cream cheese, honey, or fruit curd.
Can I make these buns without a stand mixer?
Yes, knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Why didn’t my dough rise properly?
The yeast may have been expired or the milk may have been too hot or too cold.
Can I make smaller buns?
Yes, divide the dough into smaller portions and reduce the baking time slightly.
Conclusion
Cranberry white chocolate hot cross buns are a delicious twist on the traditional classic. With soft spiced dough, sweet white chocolate, and tart cranberries, these buns are perfect for holidays, brunches, or cozy homemade baking any time of year.
