Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Who doesn’t love a Hot Cross Bun whether it’s Easter or not. This recipe is a little different to your traditional Hot Cross Bun and is also dairy free so give it a go.

Prep Time: Over 2 Hours

Cook Time: 20 – 30 Mins

Portions: 12 Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

For the cross

For the glaze

Equipment you will need:

Method:

First you need to warm your milk up in a sauce pan on a medium heat then put to one side to cool slightly
Now in a large bowl mix together your flour, sugar, salt, yeast and butter
Now pour in your milk and slowly mix then knead your dough for approximately 5 mins (your dough will be sticky but don’t worry)
You can now add in your vanilla, raisins, cranberries and dark chocolate and continue to knead for about 5 mins until your dough becomes soft and elasticated
Put your dough into a lightly oiled large bowl and leave in a warm place to prove for about an hour or until your dough has doubled in size
Ok, an hour has passed you can now start to shape your dough into 12 equal/ish circles and place on your baking tray leaving a small gap between each one and then leave to prove for another 30 mins. Don’t forget to preheat your oven to 200c during this time
Now your buns are proving you can now make the cross for the top so take your flour and add a table spoon of water at a time until you have a thick pipeable batter
Ok, 30 mins have passed, you can now pipe your cross across each bun then bake for 20 – 25 mins until golden brown
So your buns are now out the oven and you can now make your glaze. So take your apricot jam and gently heat up on a medium heat then gently brush over your Hot Cross Buns and leave to cool then enjoy!