These air fryer Hot Cross Buns are puffy, airy, and crunchy outside, and topped with the classic cross. They are easy to make in the air fryer, sparing your precious time but keeping the greatest texture and taste. And should you look for the ideal Easter dessert or, truth be told, an oh-so-hard-to-resist sweet treat, these buns won’t let you down!
What are Hot Cross Buns?
Hot Cross Buns are a sweet, spiced Easter bread roll dating back centuries that has been linked with Easter for centuries. The cross on top is to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, and they were first made to be eaten on Good Friday. Consuming Hot Cross Buns began in medieval England, although some evidence would date them back as far as the 16th century.
Traditionally, it was believed that these buns had protective powers, and some people used to hang them in their kitchen or on doorways to ward off evil spirits or bring luck. During the Elizabethan era, it was even customary to give these buns to the poor, and some believed that the buns were to be kept for the entire year, with some people keeping them to use while baking the following year.
The buns themselves are comprised of sweet dough that is seasoned with raisins, currants, and a combination of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg which provide them their distinctive flavor. The traditional top cross is commonly made from plain flour paste.
Today, Hot Cross Buns are still eaten, particularly during Easter, though their meaning and importance have altered. Whether eaten fresh from the oven, buttered and toasted, or eaten with jam, these buns continue to be a beloved tradition of holiday gatherings around the world.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns Recipe
- Quick & Easy: No waiting to get the oven hot or wrestling with several stages of rising when using the Typhur air fryer.
- Crispy, Golden Crust: Due to the air fryer, the buns have that golden brown crust and crispy texture they deserve.
- Same Traditional Flavor: You still get all the spice, sweetness, and lightness you love about Hot Cross Buns, but with less work.
- Perfect for Small Quantities: If you’re baking just a handful of buns, the air fryer is the perfect method to bake them without having to warm the entire oven.
Dual Heating Elements
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Dough:
- Whole Milk (warmed to about 110°F)
- Active Dry Yeast or Instant Yeast
- Granulated Sugar
- Light Brown Sugar
- Unsalted Butter (softened to room temperature, cut into 5 pieces)
- Vanilla Extract
- Large Eggs (at room temperature)
- Kosher Salt
- Ground Cinnamon
- Ground Nutmeg
- All-Purpose Flour
- Raisins (or currants, depending on your preference)
For the Flour Cross:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Water
For the Orange Icing:
- Confectioners’ Sugar
- Orange Juice
How to Make Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
In the stand mixer bowl, place the whole milk, yeast, and granulated sugar. Put a lid on the bowl and allow the mixture to rest for approximately 5 minutes or until bubbles appear on the surface. This signifies that the yeast is activated and ready to use!
Add in the next the light brown sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and 1 cup (125 grams) of flour to the bowl. Mix on low speed with the dough hook or whisk for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, and then add the remaining flour and raisins. Continue blending on low speed until the dough comes together and clings to the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes.
Step 2: Knead the Dough
Now we get to knead! You can knead the dough in the stand mixer with the dough hook for a total of 5 minutes or knead it by hand on a lightly floured surface for the same duration. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If you press it with your finger, it should slowly spring back—this is when it’s ready to rise.
Step 3: First Rise
Lightly oil a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean dish towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled.
Step 4: Shape the Buns
Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Cut the dough into 60g pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Pinch the bottom of each ball to seal it and place them on a greased baking sheet or directly into the air fryer basket. Leave some room between each bun so they can rise properly.
Cover the shaped rolls with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or a clean towel. Let them rise until puffy, about 1 hour.
Step 5: Make the Cross
While the rolls are rising, prepare the cross paste. Combine flour and water (start with 6 tablespoons of water) to create a thick paste that will squeeze out easily. Add remaining water if needed to achieve the right consistency. Scoop the paste into a piping bag or a zip-top bag that has had the corner removed. Pipe a line down the center of every row of buns, then again in the other direction to make a cross on every bun.
Step 6: Bake the Buns
Remove the grill plate of your Typhur Dome 2 air fryer. Oil the bottom half of the basket with oil. Carefully put the dough balls in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overfill it. Cook at 330°F (165°C) for 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked.
Step 7: Glaze and Serve
After the buns have finished baking, take them out of the air fryer using tongs. While hot, brush the orange icing on the buns for that wonderful, sweet taste. Allow them to cool a bit before serving, but don’t hesitate to grab one and enjoy it while still warm!
Hot Cross Buns
Equipment
- Tongs
- Bowl
- Sheet Tray
- Stand Mixer
Dual Heating Elements
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 3/4 cup Whole Milk warmed to about 110°F
- 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast or Instant Yeast
- 1 tsp Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 5 tbsp Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature and cut into 5 pieces
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Large Egg room temperature
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 3 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Raisins
Flour Cross
- 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
- 6 tbsp Water
Orange Icing
- 1 cup Confectioners’ Sugar
- 3 tbsp Orange Juice
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the milk, yeast, and granulated sugar. Cover with lid and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes, or until bubbles form on the surface. Add the brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and 1 cup (125 grams) of the flour. Using a dough hook or whisk, mix on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add the remaining flour and raisins. Mix on low speed until dough comes together and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 2 minutes.3/4 cup Whole Milk, 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast or Instant Yeast, 1 tsp Granulated Sugar, 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar, 5 tbsp Unsalted Butter, 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 Large Egg, 1 tsp Kosher Salt, 1 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg, 3 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour, 1 cup Raisins
- Place the dough in the mixer and knead for a full 5 minutes, or knead it by hand on a lightly floured surface for a full 5 minutes. After kneading, the dough should still be a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, the dough is ready to rise.
- Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning so all sides are coated with oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a relatively warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough is ready, flatten it to release the air. Divide the dough into 60g balls. Shape each into a smooth ball and pinch the bottom to seal. Place the dough on a greased baking sheet.
- Cover shaped rolls with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise until puffy, about 1 hour.
- Stir together the cross ingredients, beginning with 6 tablespoons of water. You want a thick paste that is easy to squeeze out. Add the remaining water if needed. Scoop the paste into a piping bag or zip-top piping bag. (If using a piping bag, you don’t need a piping tip.) Snip off a small piece at the corner. Pipe a line down the center of each row of bread, then repeat in the other direction to form a cross.
- Whisk the icing ingredients together.
- Remove the grill plate from the Typhur Dome 2. Spray the bottom of the basket with oil.
- Place the dough balls into the basket one by one.
- Cook the buns.Temperature: 330 °F Time: 20 minutes
- Use tongs to take out the baked bread and brush the icing on the surface of the bread while it is still hot.
- Enjoy the delicious bread.
Nutrition
(Nutrition information is calculated automatically by Spoonacular API and should be considered an estimate.)
