Last updated on June 29th, 2018 at 05:48 pm
These NO KNEAD Hot Cross Buns, are super soft and fluffy, loaded with apples and perfectly spiced. With my NO FAIL recipe for these delicious Apple Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns, you’ll be making the easiest hot cross buns ever, with NO KNEADING required! Don’t forget to check out the VIDEO to see just how easy they are to make.
I have made these hot cross buns twice already this past week and let me tell you that I’m still not tired of eating them. They’re just so perfect for breakfast with coffee or for a quick snack. I absolutely love them.
You know what’s great about hot cross buns? They really are versatile. My version here is for apple cinnamon hot cross buns, but check out my original recipe here with raisins soaked in rum, which are just as great. You could add so many different things to them, like currants or craisins, orange peel, how about some chocolate chips or go for a savory version and add some cheese.
But my favorite thing about these hot cross buns is that no kneading is required and no special equipment such as a mixer is needed. So what does this mean? Everyone can make them. You have no excuse for not making these because they couldn’t get any easier.
I love my hot cross buns on the sweeter side so I always like to make the crosses with icing rather than the more traditional way of using a flour and water paste. Totally up to you how you do it, be sure to check out the recipe notes for using flour/water paste.
I also like to make a glaze and because these are apple cinnamon hot cross buns, I thought a cinnamon sugar glaze would be perfect for just a bit more of that cinnamon flavor.
Hope you give these a try because they really are delicious, super soft and fluffy. Everyone will enjoy these!
If you try this recipe, please let us know! Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #jocooks on Instagram so we can see it. I always love to see what you guys come up with!
These NO KNEAD Hot Cross Buns, are super soft and fluffy, loaded with apples and perfectly spiced. With my NO FAIL recipe for these delicious Apple Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns, you'll be making the easiest hot cross buns ever, with NO KNEADING required!
- 5 medium apples peeled, cored and shredded (I used Gala apples)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups milk lukewarm, I used 2%
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp instant yeast or active dry yeast
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp cinnamon ground
- 3 large eggs
- 6 tbsp butter unsalted, melted
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon ground
- 3/4 cup icing sugar same as confectioners sugar or powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 tbsp butter unsalted, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp water
Place the shredded apples on 4 sheets of paper towels in a strainer, and place the strainer inside a bowl. Sprinkle 1 tsp of salt over the apples and stir them. This will release the liquid from the apples, this way we can control the liquid in the dough. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then squeeze the juice from the apples, as much as you can. Keep the juice, in case you need more liquid for the dough.
In a medium size bowl, whisk the warm milk with the sugar and yeast. Let it rest for 5 minutes. If using active dry yeast, it might take longer for the yeast to activate, 10 to 15 minutes. See notes for more info.
In another large bowl add the flour, the other tsp of salt, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon then whisk until fully incorporated. Stir in the shredded apple.
To the bowl with the milk and yeast add the eggs, butter and whisk well. Add this to the flour mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon until well combined. You should have a thick sticky dough, see video. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest until doubled in size, for about 1 hour. See notes for tips.
Line a 16.5 x 11.38 x 1 inches baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the towel from the dough and sprinkle with some flour over the top. Also dust your work surface and hands with flour. Place the dough on the work surface and shape it into a log. Cut it into 24 equal pieces.
To shape each piece into a roll, take a piece and flatten it with your palm or fingers. Fold it up into a ball by pinching the sides together, turn it over and roll it briefly. See video.
Place the bun with the smooth side up onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough pieces and line them up 4 x 6.
Cover the baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise a second time for about 30 minutes. Do NOT let them rise longer, you only want them to rise about 50% to 75% more as they will finish rising in the oven.
About 10 minutes before the rolls are done rising, preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the rolls for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
In a small sauce pan add all the glaze ingredients and heat over medium heat. After it comes to a boil, turn down the heat and cook for another 3 minutes. All the sugar should be dissolved and the glaze should have thickened a bit. Remove from heat and set aside. The glaze should thicken more as it cools.
Once the hot cross buns are done baking, remove them from the oven and immediately brush them with the glaze. Let them cool for 10 minutes.
Whisk all the icing ingredients together and transfer the icing to a piping bag or ziploc bag. Snip the piping bag or a corner of the ziploc bag.
Pipe crosses onto the buns with the icing.
Recipe Video
Crosses: Traditionally the crosses on hot cross buns are made with a flour and water mixture, not icing. If you want to do this, whisk together about 1/2 cup of flour and 5 tbsp water until a paste forms. Transfer this to a piping bag and pipe crosses on the buns before baking.
Tip for increasing dough rising time: Preheat your oven to 150 F to 200 F degrees, then turn off the oven. Place the covered bowl with the dough in the oven and close the door. The dough should rise in 30 minutes to 1 hour. This will ensure a nice and warm, draft free environment for the dough.
Yeast: I used instant yeast but active dry yeast can be used as well. Please note that usually instant yeast does not need to be activated, only active dry yeast does. However, I like to mix whisk my instant yeast with the milk sugar, but it can be added directly to the flour.
Make sure your milk is not too hot or it could kill the yeast which will cause your dough not to rise at all. The ideal temperature for the milk should be between 105 F degrees and 110 F for proofing. While 95 F degrees is the best temperature for yeast to multiply, that's not warm enough for proofing active dry yeast.
Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn't expired. All your yeast products whether it’s in a jar or a package should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast, who knows it could have been on the shelf past its expiry date.
To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard. However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
can i leave out the grated apple? and replace dried fruit with chocochip?
You can for sure. The apple adds a bit of moisture, so if you find they’re a little bit dry that would be why.
so if i replace the apple with milk/water how much it should be in gram please?
I wouldn’t actually add any additional milk or water until the dough is finished and if you notice it’s too dry, then I’d add a bit of milk until the dough is right. I’d start with a tbsp at a time.
Hi Jo, Have you got any advice for substituting in whole wheat flour?
I’m guessing I could swap half of the AP flour, but I wondered if I should I increase the amount of butter at all?
Thanks
Hmm, haven’t tried it myself, but I don’t see why not. I would probably use a whole stick of butter. Do let me know how it turns out if you try them.
The recipe is easy to follow with clear instructions. The buns turned out just as described and taste wonderful. The recipe made enough to share while still warm and put some in the freezer for another day.
Wow, I was so sceptical about this receipe I just had to try it. It delivered everything it said on the tin. I would have liked a bit more spice and some currants! I will certainly use this receipe again next year or even before. Wonderful. And thanks for the tip on reducing quantities. Very useful. But they all went anyway. On the scales this morning………don’t ask. Thank you again – but not for the weight gain but that’s my fault!
Lol, thanks for the giggle! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Since there are only 3 of us, could I 1/2 the recipe? I don’t need 24 buns!
Absolutely! Hover your mouse cursor over the number of servings in the recipe card. You’ll be able to slide the bar to suit however many servings you want, and the ingredients will calculate themselves for you.
Wonderful. Light and tasty.
Luv these , wondering if I could use gluten free flour to make them gluten free? Appreciate any feed back thanks
I’m not an expert when it comes to gluten free baking, so I can’t really answer you. I do know you can find gluten free all purpose flour now pretty much everywhere in the baking aisle. Would love to hear if you try them.
Thank You so much for this recipe. I made these buns this morning. They couldn’t have turned out better. Just the right amount of sweetness and flavoring, so nice and soft and delicious. It’s the first time I have made a no knead bread that wasn’t course textured and tough. I will definitely be making these again
I’m so glad you liked them! They really are super soft, aren’t they?
Love this looks great. I was wondering could I add fruit I.e sultanas , raisins etc? If so when should I add them?. Keep up the good work.
Yes you can, and I would add them at the same time when I add the apples, instead add whatever dried fruits you like.
These look delicious! I am planning on making them this weekend. I wish I had read this earlier as it was snowy here and I would have made them today. Thanks for another wonderful recipe.
What can I substitute for the apples if I do not want to use them?
Try canned pineapple (strained) or grated pears.
I am going to make these. I was wondering…if I was to make, say, an herb and cheese one, what do you suggest for using for the “cross”?
If you’re going down the savory route, I would make the traditional cross with the flour and water paste.
First – these look amazing and I think I’ll need to make them ASAP.
Second – you mention that the icing is Cinnamon Icing, but there’s no cinnamon listed in the icing ingredients; is this a mistake or is truly just a plain vanilla icing? Just thought I’d check 🙂
Oops, it’s there now. 🙂