Cinnamon apple hot cross buns

Serves: 12
Prep: 25 + rising
Cook: 20
Spiced hot cross buns with a delicious apple twist, what a perfect Easter treat!

Looking for more egg-sellent Easter ideas? Check out this collection of Easter treats plus our favourite family-friendly activities that’ll help make Easter that little bit sweeter. 

Ingredients

  • 3 Weet-Bix™ wheat biscuits, finely crushed
  • ​1/2 cup + 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 cup So Good unsweetened milk
  • 1 packet dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp, 7 g)
  • 2 tsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for bowl
  • 2 cups plain wholemeal flour (280 g)
  • 2 cups plain white flour (280 g), plus extra for kneading
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup finely diced apple (approx. 1 medium apple)
For the Crosses
  • 1/4 cup plain white flour, extra
  • ​2 - 3 Tbsp cool water
To Glaze
  • ​1 - 2 Tbsp honey, or strained jam, warmed

Method

  1. Step 1

    Combine Weet-Bix and 1/2 cup boiling water in a small bowl. Stir to make a porridge, and set aside. Combine So Good milk and 1/4 cup boiling water in a large bowl – the liquid should be room temperature, not hot. Add honey and sprinkle over yeast, stirring well. Set aside 5 to 10 minutes until foamy – this means your yeast is alive.

Tips

  • Blooming the yeast first (Step 1) confirms it’s fresh and alive before adding the other ingredients. If you’re not used to working with yeast, blooming in a narrow jug instead of a wide bowl can make it easier to see activity.
  • Rising time of dough can vary based on the temperature of your kitchen and temperature of ingredients used. Dough will rise more quickly in warmer weather, slower when it’s cooler.
  • The need for extra flour will depend on a range of factors including brand used, and humidity in the air. It’s better to have dough that’s a bit sticky or tacky after kneading, than one that is dry and too firm! Flour will continue to absorb liquid as it rises.