Hot Cross Bun Muffins

Name: Hot Cross Bun Muffins
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup brown butter; 1/4 cup brown sugar (*check note); 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla; 3 tbsp yogurt; 3 tbsp buttermilk (*check notes); 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg; 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder; Pinch of salt; 1 cup flour; 1/2 cup dried fruit (*check notes); 3 tbsp butter; 9 tbsp icing sugar; 1 tbsp orange juice; 1/2 tsp vanilla

A twist on the classic traditional easter dish, a marriage between hot cross buns and muffins. It is a simple one bowl recipe that is fluffy and packed with soaked dried fruit, topped with buttercream frosting crosses.

With Easter round the corner there are a few recipes which are a must. Hot cross buns are one of them. I have my classic hot cross bun recipe which is such a winner – I mean so many of you have made it over the years and I make it every single year during the season. I went one step further and made hot cross cinnamon buns as well and they were so fluffy and soft. But I have to up my game, so think: if fluffy bakery style muffins married hot cross buns, their offspring would be these Hot cross bun muffins.

They are simple to mix up, you only need a bowl and whisk to whip up the batter. Which doesn’t take much time as well. They are baked up in 25 minutes. Top them with my buttercream frosting to create “crosses”. They are perfect as a dessert, snack or breakfast on the go. Before we get into the recipe of how to make them let us understand what hot cross buns are.

What are hot cross buns?

Hot cross buns mark the end of the Christian season of lent. The bun itself has many meanings depending on the country you come from. Some say the cross depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, while the spices inside signify the spices used to embalm him during the burial. There are many stories on why it signifies however we will not get into every story/belief.

What are hot cross bun muffins?

We take all the spices, flavors from a traditional hot cross bun and put it into a fluffy muffin batter. The muffin itself is not a yeasted batter and comes together very quickly. The muffin gets its crosses on top with the addition of buttercream frosting.

What ingredients do you need to make these Hot cross bun muffins?

For the wet ingredients we need browned butter (you could use melted butter or oil), yogurt, buttermilk, egg and vanilla. For the dry ingredients we need brown and white sugar (you can use either or to make, I just prefer the flavor and texture when you use both), flour, baking powder, baking soda, slat, nutmeg, cinnamon and dried fruit.

Now for the dried fruit I like to soak them in 1/4 cup orange juice but you can also soak them in dark rum or brandy for a more delicious flavor. If you prefer, you can use water to soak them as well. This must be done 15 minutes before to ensure they get plump. To make the frosting we need butter, icing sugar, orange juice and vanilla. You can use milk instead of the juice but I like the flavor so I wouldn’t suggest skipping it.

What equipment do you need to make these Hot cross bun muffins?

To make the muffin batter we need a mixing bowl and rubber spatula or whisk. They are baked in a muffin tray with paper cases you could use baking paper cases as well. To make the frosting we need a mixing bowl and whisk. I like to use a piping bag to pipe the crosses on top of the muffins once baked.

How to make these Hot cross bun muffins?

We start by preheat the oven to 180℃, line a muffin tray with paper cases, I like using baking paper cut into squares, this gives you a very rustic muffin. In a bowl add the browned butter, sugar, vanilla and mix. Add the egg and mix again. Add the yogurt, buttermilk and mix until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and stir until no dry pockets of flour are visible. Do not over mix at this stage. Transfer to the lined baking tray and bake for 22-25 minutes until tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Serving and storing these Hot cross bun muffins?

While they are cooling make the frosting by beating the butter and sugar in a bowl until smooth, add the orange juice and vanilla, stir until combined and transfer to a piping bag. Pipe crosses over the muffins and serve. Like serving them while they are still a little warm so the frosting gets a little soft with the heat. They are best served with a glass of milk or coffee or tea. The leftovers can be stored in an air tight container at room temperature for 2 days. I would recommend placing them in the fridge if storing longer, they will keep in the fridge for 5 days. When ready to eat you can heat them in the microwave and serve with salted butter and jam.

Looking for more Easter inspired recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make these hot cross bun muffins, you can have a look at the video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more baking recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.