Celebrate the Easter season with a delightful twist on a beloved tradition – Chocolate Hot Cross Buns! These decadent treats offer a delicious fusion of rich chocolate flavor and the comforting warmth of spiced buns. With their soft texture, enticing aroma, and iconic cross topping, Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are a delightful way to indulge in the Easter festivities. Perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying as a special treat, these buns are sure to elevate your Easter celebrations to new heights of sweetness and delight!

WHAT IS HOT CROSS BUNS?

A hot cross bun is a type of sweet, spiced bun that is typically made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and yeast, flavored with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and sometimes cloves. These buns often contain dried fruit such as currants, raisins, or sultanas, adding a burst of sweetness and texture. What sets hot cross buns apart is the symbolic cross marked on top of each bun, traditionally made with a flour and water paste, though variations may use icing or other decorative touches.

Hot cross buns are closely associated with Easter and are typically enjoyed during the Easter season, although they are also popular year-round in some regions. They hold cultural and religious significance, with the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, making them a symbolic treat for Christians around the world. However, they are also enjoyed as a delicious baked good by people of all backgrounds, often served toasted and slathered with butter.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPES?

You’ll love this recipe for melt chocolate filling hot cross buns because it offers a delightful fusion of rich chocolate filling nestled within soft, spiced buns, creating a luxurious and indulgent treat that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings during the Easter season.

• Decadent Indulgence: The combination of soft, spiced buns and rich melted chocolate filling creates a decadent treat that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
• Luxurious Flavor: The indulgent taste of melted chocolate adds a luxurious touch to the traditional hot cross bun recipe, elevating it to new levels of deliciousness.
• Irresistible Aroma: As these buns bake, your kitchen will be filled with the irresistible aroma of warm spices and chocolate, creating an inviting atmosphere that’s sure to entice your family and guests.
• Perfect for Easter: These melt chocolate filling hot cross buns are an ideal addition to your Easter celebrations, offering a unique twist on a classic treat that will impress your loved ones.
• Great for Sharing: Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, these buns are perfect for sharing with family and friends, making them a wonderful addition to any gathering.
• Customizable: You can easily customize this recipe to suit your preferences by adjusting the amount of chocolate filling or adding additional ingredients such as nuts or dried fruit for extra texture and flavor.
• Homemade Goodness: Baking these melt chocolate filling hot cross buns from scratch allows you to enjoy the satisfaction of creating something delicious and homemade, making them even more enjoyable to eat.
• Versatile: While perfect for Easter, these buns are delicious year-round and can be enjoyed as a special treat for any occasion or as an indulgent snack to satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Overall, this recipe offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures that are sure to make it a favorite in your household. So why not give it a try and experience the joy of baking and indulging in these melt chocolate filling hot cross buns?

INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTES

Ingredient quantities please refer to the recipes card (Click here)!

• Bread Flour: Contains more protein than all-purpose flour, which helps create a chewier texture in the buns. If you don’t have bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour as a substitute, though the texture may be slightly different.
• Dried Yeast: Leavens the dough, causing it to rise. If you don’t have instant yeast, you can use active dry yeast, but you’ll need to activate it in warm water before adding it to the dough.
• Milk: Provides moisture and helps create a tender crumb. You can use any type of milk, including dairy-free alternatives like almond, soy, or oat milk.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness to the dough. You can substitute with brown sugar or honey for a slightly different flavor profile.
• Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder adds a rich chocolate flavor to the dough of the hot cross buns. It contributes to the overall taste profile, providing a delicious chocolatey element that complements the sweetness of the dough and filling. Finely chopped dark chocolate can be melted and used as a substitute for cocoa powder in some recipes, especially those where a rich chocolate flavor and texture are desired. Use approximately 1 ounce of dark chocolate for every 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder called for in the recipe.
• Chocolate Chips: Add rich chocolate flavor and decadence to the buns. Use your favorite type of chocolate, whether it’s dark, milk, or white chocolate.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the dough. You can substitute with salted butter, but adjust the added salt accordingly. Alternatively, you can use margarine or vegetable shortening for a dairy-free option.
• Fine Sea Salt: Enhances the flavor of the dough. You can substitute with table salt if needed.
• Paste (for the Cross): Made with flour, sugar, and water, this paste is piped onto the buns before baking to create the traditional cross. You can use icing sugar mixed with water or milk as an alternative.
• Butter (for the Glaze): Adds shine and flavor to the baked buns. You can substitute with apricot jam or honey for a different glaze.

By understanding the role of each ingredient, you can make substitutions based on your dietary preferences or what you have available in your pantry, while still achieving delicious hot cross buns.

RECIPES TIPS

• Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor and texture, use fresh and high-quality ingredients, especially the spices and dried fruits.
• Active Yeast: If you’re using active dry yeast instead of instant yeast, activate it in warm water with a pinch of sugar before adding it to the dough. This ensures that the yeast is alive and active, leading to better rising.
• Proper Kneading: Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This helps develop the gluten, resulting in a better texture in the finished buns. You can do this by hand or with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
• Rising Time: Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in size. This usually takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
• Shaping the Buns: Divide the dough into equal portions and shape them into smooth balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each bun to allow for rising.
• Cross Decoration: If using a paste to create the cross on top of the buns, make sure it’s thick enough to hold its shape but still pipeable. You can adjust the consistency by adding more flour or water as needed.
• Use Finely Chopped Chocolate: Ensure that you chop the chocolate into small, uniform pieces. Smaller pieces melt more evenly and quickly than larger chunks, allowing the chocolate to blend seamlessly into the dough.
• Adjust Baking Temperature: If you find that the chocolate filling still isn’t melting properly during baking, you can try adjusting the temperature of your oven. A slightly higher temperature may help the chocolate melt more quickly without overbaking the buns.
• Cover with Foil: If you notice that the chocolate is browning too quickly on the surface of the buns before it has a chance to melt completely, you can loosely cover the buns with aluminum foil during the latter part of the baking process. This helps to trap heat and encourage melting while preventing excessive browning.
• Glazing: Brush the baked buns with a warm glaze as soon as they come out of the oven. This adds shine and sweetness to the buns and helps keep them soft.
• Cooling and Storage: Allow the hot cross buns to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. They are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. You can also freeze them for longer storage.
• Experiment: Feel free to experiment with different spices, dried fruits, or glazes to customize the flavor of your hot cross buns to your liking. Have fun and enjoy the baking process!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Full recipes and Thermomix® instructions please refer to the recipes card (Click here)!

1. Prepare Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients needed for the hot cross buns, including bread flour, cocoa powder, sugar, instant yeast, salt, milk, butter, egg, and chopped chocolate for the filling.
2. Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm milk and a pinch of sugar. Sprinkle instant yeast over the milk mixture and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until frothy.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together bread flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until well combined.
4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the activated yeast mixture, melted butter, and beaten egg until smooth.
5. Form Dough: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix until a shaggy dough forms.
6. Knead Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
7. Add Chocolate Filling: Flatten the dough, put the chopped chocolate in the centre of the dough then carefully pinch the edges together to tightly seal the filling inside.
8. Shape Buns: Take each portion of dough and shape it into a smooth ball, ensuring that the chocolate filling is enclosed within the dough. Place the shaped buns on a lined baking sheet, leaving space between each bun for rising.
9. Proofing: Cover the buns with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
10. Preheat Oven: About 20 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to the specified temperature (usually around 180°C or 350°F).
11. Pipe Crosses: While the buns are proofing, prepare the cross mixture by combining flour and water to form a thick paste. Transfer the paste into a piping bag and pipe crosses onto the risen buns.
12. Bake: Once the buns have doubled in size and the oven is preheated, bake the hot cross buns in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
13. Glaze: While the buns are still warm, brush them with a warm glaze made from melted chocolate or cocoa powder mixed with milk or water. This adds shine and enhances the flavor of the buns.
14. Cool and Serve: Allow the hot cross buns to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature with a spread of butter or your favorite topping.

By following these step-by-step instructions, you can create delicious chocolate filling hot cross buns that are perfect for Easter or any special occasion.

VARIATIONS

Here are some variations of hot cross buns to try:

• Triple Chocolate Hot Cross Buns: Add chocolate chips or chunks to the dough in addition to the cocoa powder for an extra-rich chocolate flavor. You can also drizzle melted chocolate over the baked buns for even more indulgence.
• Orange Chocolate Hot Cross Buns: Infuse the dough with orange zest and add chopped candied orange peel along with the chocolate. The combination of chocolate and orange is a classic flavor pairing that adds brightness to the buns.
• Hazelnut Chocolate Hot Cross Buns: Add chopped hazelnuts to the dough along with the chocolate for a nutty crunch. You can also sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top of the crosses for added texture.
• White Chocolate Raspberry Hot Cross Buns: Use white chocolate chips or chunks in the dough and add freeze-dried raspberries along with the chocolate. The tartness of the raspberries complements the sweetness of the white chocolate for a delicious contrast of flavors.
• Mocha Hot Cross Buns: Add instant espresso powder or strong brewed coffee to the dough for a subtle coffee flavor that enhances the chocolate. You can also sprinkle cocoa powder over the crosses for a mocha twist.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Hot Cross Buns: Drizzle homemade or store-bought salted caramel sauce over the baked buns for a sweet and salty treat. You can also add a pinch of sea salt to the dough to enhance the flavor of the chocolate.

These variations offer a wide range of flavors and ingredients to suit different preferences and cravings. Get creative and experiment with different combinations to discover your favorite twist on the classic Chocolate Hot Cross Buns recipe!

MADE AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS

Making Chocolate Hot Cross Buns ahead of time can be convenient, especially if you want to enjoy them fresh on Easter morning without the rush of baking. Here are some instructions for preparing Chocolate Hot Cross Buns ahead of time:

1. Prepare the Dough: Follow the recipe instructions up to the point where you shape the dough into individual buns. Instead of letting them rise for the second time, cover the shaped buns tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate them overnight.
2. Overnight Rise: The shaped buns can rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight. This allows the flavors to develop and makes the baking process more convenient the next day.
3. Morning Baking: On the morning you plan to bake the hot cross buns, remove them from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature while the oven preheats. This usually takes about 30-60 minutes.
4. Second Rise: Once the buns have come to room temperature, remove the plastic wrap or foil and let them rise for the second time in a warm, draft-free place until they have doubled in size. This may take 30-60 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
5. Bake as Directed: Preheat the oven and bake the risen hot cross buns according to the recipe instructions. Keep an eye on them while they bake, as the timing may vary slightly due to the overnight refrigeration.
6. Glaze and Serve: Once the hot cross buns are baked to golden perfection, brush them with the glaze while they’re still warm from the oven. Allow them to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
7. Storage: If you have leftover hot cross buns, allow them to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw frozen buns at room temperature or gently reheat them in the oven before serving.

By preparing the dough ahead of time, you can enjoy freshly baked Chocolate Hot Cross Buns with minimal effort on Easter morning, allowing you more time to relax and celebrate with loved ones.

STORAGE & REHEATING

Storage and reheating instructions for hot cross buns:

Storage:

1. Allow the hot cross buns to cool completely to room temperature before storing them.
2. Place the cooled buns in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag.
3. Store the hot cross buns at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you need to store them for longer, you can freeze them.

Freezing:

1. To freeze hot cross buns, wrap them individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
2. Place the wrapped buns in a freezer-safe bag or container, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
3. Label the container with the date and contents.
4. Store the buns in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.

Reheating:

1. Thaw frozen hot cross buns overnight in the refrigerator if frozen.
2. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
3. Remove the buns from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to take the chill off.
4. Place the buns on a baking sheet and reheat them in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
5. Alternatively, you can slice the buns in half and toast them in a toaster or toaster oven until heated to your liking.
6. Once reheated, serve the hot cross buns warm with butter, jam, or your favorite toppings.

By following these storage and reheating instructions, you can enjoy delicious hot cross buns even after they’ve been stored or frozen, ensuring they stay fresh and tasty for whenever you’re ready to enjoy them.

RECIPES FAQS

Can I use different types of chocolate for the filling?

Yes, you can use your favorite type of chocolate for the filling, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. Choose the one that suits your taste preferences.

Can I use cocoa powder instead of chopped chocolate for the filling?

While cocoa powder can be used to flavor the dough, it may not provide the same texture and richness as chopped chocolate. However, you can mix cocoa powder with sugar and melted butter to create a chocolate paste for filling the buns.

How do I prevent the chocolate from leaking out during baking?

Make sure to seal the edges of the dough tightly after adding the chocolate filling. Additionally, ensure that the buns are properly shaped into smooth balls with no cracks or openings.

How long do these hot cross buns stay fresh?

These hot cross buns are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made. However, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat them gently in the oven or microwave before serving.

Can I freeze these hot cross buns?

Yes, you can freeze these hot cross buns for longer storage. Allow them to cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw them at room temperature or reheat them in the oven before serving.

What can I serve with chocolate filling hot cross buns?

These hot cross buns are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with butter, jam, or even a drizzle of chocolate sauce for extra indulgence.

Can I adjust the sweetness of these hot cross buns?

Yes, you can adjust the amount of sugar in the dough to suit your taste preferences. If you prefer sweeter buns, you can increase the amount of sugar in the dough or add extra chocolate filling.