Chocolate and Orange Hot Cross Buns – Soft, fluffy hot cross buns packed with chocolate chips, warm spices, and fresh orange flavour. A delicious twist on the Easter classic!
If you love the combination of chocolate and orange, these Chocolate and Orange Hot Cross Buns are sure to become a favourite! They’re wonderfully soft and fluffy, filled with chocolate chips, fresh orange zest, and a delicious blend of warm spices for a sweet, comforting flavour in every bite.
These homemade buns are a lovely twist on traditional hot cross buns, with their classic flour crosses and a beautiful, glossy orange glaze. They’re perfect for Easter breakfast, a cosy afternoon treat, or simply enjoying warm with a little butter and a cup of tea. And they’re just as delicious lightly toasted the next day!
Looking for more delicious Easter treats? Try my Baked Carrot Cake Doughnuts, Mini Egg Cookies, or Creme Egg Brownies.
Happy baking,
Marsha x
From the recipe box
Chocolate and Orange Hot Cross Buns
Soft, fluffy hot cross buns packed with chocolate chips, warm spices, and fresh orange flavour. A delicious twist on the Easter classic!
Prep 45 minutes
Cook 35 minutes
Rise 1 hour 30 minutes
Total 2 hours 50 minutes
Yields 12 buns
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Ingredients
For the Dough
- 300 ml whole milk, warmed to 43°C (110°F)
- 100 g caster or granulated sugar
- 14 g active dry yeast
- 115 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 60 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- Zest of 1 large orange
- 780 g bread flour
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 130 g chocolate chips
For the Flour Crosses
- 60 g plain/all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon caster or granulated sugar
- 60 ml water
For the Orange Glaze
- 50 g caster or granulated sugar
- 60 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
Instructions
For the Dough
- In a large measuring jug, stir together the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Set aside for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes foamy and bubbly.
- Pour the yeast mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the melted butter, eggs, egg yolk, orange juice, and orange zest, and whisk until combined.
- Add the flour, mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and chocolate chips. Mix until a rough, sticky dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. If the dough is too sticky to handle, sprinkle over a little extra flour, 1 teaspoon at a time, until manageable. Avoid adding too much flour.
- Place the dough into a lightly greased large bowl. Cover with cling film/plastic wrap or a clean tea towel, and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to release the air, then transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal-sized portions and roll each one into a smooth ball.
- Arrange the dough balls in a greased 33 × 23cm (13 × 9-inch) baking tin. Cover with cling film/plastic wrap or a clean tea towel, and leave to rise in a warm place for a further 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/350°F/Gas 4.
For the Flour Crosses
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar. Add the water and stir until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and snip off a small piece from the tip. Pipe crosses over the tops of the risen buns.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the buns are risen, golden brown, and reach an internal temperature of 88–93°C (190–200°F).
For the Orange Glaze
- Whilst the buns are baking, place the sugar and orange juice into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir gently until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Remove the buns from the oven and immediately brush the orange glaze evenly over the tops.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving warm.
Recipe notes
Yeast: Use active dry yeast for this recipe. The milk should be warm (about 43°C/110°F), not hot. Instant yeast can also be used in the same quantity and mixed directly into the dry ingredients.
Mixed spice: Mixed spice is a British blend of warm spices. If unavailable, use extra cinnamon with a pinch of ground nutmeg.
Make ahead: Prepare the dough and shape into 12 balls as instructed. Arrange in the prepared baking tin, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. The following morning, leave to rise in a warm place until puffy, then add the flour crosses and bake as instructed.
Storage: Store leftover buns in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week. Warm gently or toast before serving.
Freezing: Baked hot cross buns freeze well for up to 3 months. Allow to cool completely, then wrap individually and place in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature before warming and serving.
I’d love to hear from you.
Comments
This recipe has become a staple breakfast in our house, I make them once or twice a month! They are soo good!
I baked these hot x buns the other day and they are delicious, Also, I made a batch of lemon and ginger buns which were equally tasty.
Just to clarify that you add the glaze after baking, before eating, while still warm? A high end grocery store used to sell choc and orange hot cross buns and my hubby loved them, but they arent doing them this year so going to try making some as a surprise.
Yes, that’s correct. Enjoy!
Can the dough be made and rise in the fridge overnight? Would love to have this ready for breakfast in the morning without having to wake up early for the first rise.
Yes, of course! 🙂
I’m in the US, what is mixed spice? Can you explain what is in mixed spice in the UK? I don’t like the idea of pumpkin spice with chocolate, and want to use some other spice.
Mixed spice, also called pudding spice, is a British blend of sweet spices, similar to the pumpkin pie spice used in the US. Cinnamon is the dominant flavour, with nutmeg and allspice. Here’s a recipe for you – https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/181605/mixed-spice. I hope that helps! 🙂