Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns

These Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are perfectly light and fluffy, full of chocolately goodness and make the most delicious Easter treat.

Don’t you just love Easter time, with the smell of freshly baked Hot Cross Buns coming out of every local bakery?  Well now you can create your very own bakery at home, with my easy and delicious Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns.

Hot Cross Buns For Easter

I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t stand it when the supermarkets start selling Hot Cross Buns on Boxing Day.  I mean, c’mon!  For me, they’re definitely something to be enjoyed only around Easter -isn’t that what makes them so special?

Traditional Easter Buns, But Better!

I absolutely LOVE traditional Hot Cross Buns, especially when they’re hot (the best) and lathered with butter.  Heaven!  But my boys aren’t huge fans of dried fruit in rolls, so these soft and delicious Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns keep everyone happy.  I mean, who could resist a Hot Cross Bun that is absolutely choc-o-block with chocolate with a lovely hint of spice.

My Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns have the perfect texture, being extra light and fluffy.  They are super rich, extremely decadent and just perfect for Easter brunch, breakfast (why not?) or for me, with a coffee.   Eating them warm from the oven is the most delicious chocolatey treat!

the perfect amount of chocolate

When I was trialling this recipe, I tested them on my boys, my husband and his work colleagues.  The boys said they could handle even more chocolate (they’re insane!) my husband said maybe less chocolate (he’s even more insane) and the tradies at his work site thought all of their Christmases (Easters!) had come at once!  I thought they were just right….which is why I’m sharing them with you now.

how to make perfect hot cross buns

• make sure the milk is only lukewarm -if it’s too hot it will kill the yeast and the buns won’t rise

• adding a little of the sugar to the milk and yeast helps to activate the yeast
• bread flour is higher in protein, which lightens the texture of the dough, resulting in light, fluffy buns

More Chocolate Recipes

If you love chocolate as much as I do, check out some of my other chocolate recipes Simply Perfect Chocolate Cake and the super easy No-Bake Mars Bar Slice

I hope you enjoy making (and eating) them.  If you do, please share on my Insta @applecakeannie

Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Full of chocolate and with a hint of spice, my soft and fluffy Hot Cross Buns are perfect for Easter breakfast, brunch, or just with a coffee. Kids of all ages are sure to love them!

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Rising 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Afternoon Tea, Breakfast, brunch, Snack

Cuisine American, Australian, English

Servings 15

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Buns

• 560 g Plain Bread Flour
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Spice or mixed spice
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• pinch Salt
• 60 g Butter, melted and cooled
• 170 g Caster Sugar
• 7 g Dry Yeast 1 sachet or 2 tsp
• 375 ml Lukewarm Milk
• 35 g Cocoa
• 1 Egg lightly beaten
• 150 g Dark Chocolate Chips

Crosses

• ⅓ cup Flour
• ¼ cup Water
• 2 tsp Sugar

Glaze

• ½ cup Sugar
• ½ cup Water

Instructions

 

Buns

• Place the milk in a small jug or bowl, then stir in the yeast and a spoonful of the sugar. Leave for 5 minutes, until frothy
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, cocoa, spices and salt
• Make a well in the centre, then add the yeast mixture, egg, melted butter and remaining sugar
• Using a dough hook, mix on low-medium for 5 minutes, until smooth. Mixture will be quite sticky!
• Add the chocolate chips and stir mix through on low
• Transfer dough to a large, clean and oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, then a tea towel and leave in a warm place until doubled in size (1½-2 hours)
• Turn dough onto a floured work surface and divide the dough into 3 equal parts. Cut each third into 5 pieces and roll each into a ball
• Place the buns into a lined 23cmx34cm deep cake pan, leaving an equal distance between each bun
• Cover again and place in a warm spot to rise -about another 45 minutes
• While dough is rising, preheat the oven to 200° celsius

Crosses

• Mix together the flour, sugar and enough of the water to make a smooth, pipable paste.
• Once the buns have finished their second rise, scoop the crosses mixture into a snap lock bag and snip off the end to make a piping bag
• Pipe crosses in long straight lines across all of the buns
• Bake in a 200° oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 180° for another 13-15 minutes

Glaze

• Glaze (sugar syrup) can be made while the buns are rising
• In a small saucepan. place the sugar and water
• Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Put aside until after buns have finished cooking
• Once cooked, remove buns from oven and immediately brush enough of the glaze to liberally coat the top of each bun
• Remove buns from pan, break apart and enjoy!

Keyword buns, chocolate, easter, easter baking, hot cross buns

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