Cranberry orange hot cross buns are quick to make (for a yeast bread) and delicious enough to be a sure crowd-pleaser this Easter!
You know I can’t get enough cranberries! I keep bags of cranberries in my freezer year-round (and you can usually find frozen ones at the grocery store) but I’m using dried cranberries here because A) not everyone is on the cranberry bandwagon to the same degree I am and B) I got to finish the bag of craisins after I finished baking. #cranberriesforlife.
Side note: I’m spending way too much time on instagram, hashtagging everything, wanting to communicate only via emoji. I’m the girl who, up until a few weeks ago, still wrote out EVERY SINGLE WORD in texts. No abbreviations. No slangy shorthand.
But now I’d rather give a thumbs up to the checker at the grocery store than respond “everything in one bag would be great.” Speaking just seems inefficient. I have to say I don’t like this side of myself–but I’m a leetle obsessed with insta so I don’t see myself going on a social media diet any time soon.
Whoa, where did that tangent come from?
Back to the reason you’re here: cranberry orange hot cross buns. They’re like my favorite cranberry quick bread in yeast bread (bun) form. And they’re here to grace your Easter table and make your family think you spent hours in the kitchen, when we both know these little dough balls were really pretty simple to make.
But the veryvery best part of the hot cross buns? Besides the taste? The way my kitchen smells right now. You do not even know! It’s insane. Like holidays and sweet baked goods and just plain joy.
Try to hold yourself back from eating one (or three) when you pull them out of the oven. You’ll see what I mean. Nothing has a right to smell this amazing.
And I learned something about myself in the course of baking these: I would never have made it as a surgeon. Not that I’ve ever aspired to be a surgeon but based on how shakily I piped those crosses on top it’s safe to say no one with connected brain cells would allow me near a scalpel.
You can use dark raisins if you prefer; I usually don’t care for goldens but thought their sweetness worked better with the tart cranberries. If you don’t like raisins you can use more cranberries or chopped dried apricots or whatever your heart desires.
There’s pretty much no way to go wrong. These fluffy little hot cross buns are just too right.
Cranberry orange hot cross buns will be the hit of your Easter brunch!
- 1/4 cup rum or apple juice
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs 1 separated
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- finely grated zest of 1 to 2 oranges*
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg white reserved from the eggs you used for the rolls
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed orange juice optional
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 to 4 teaspoons whole milk or enough to make a thick-but-pipeable frosting
- Place the rum, cranberries, and raisins in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave until the mixture is just warm. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Once the mixture has cooled, place all bun ingredients (except the cranberry mixture) in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on medium speed until dough is soft and elastic—about 4 to 6 minutes. Add the cranberry mixture along with any liquid the fruit did not absorb and mix until evenly distributed. (Dough will be very wet and sticky.)
- Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature for 1 hour. Dough will be puffy but will not necessarily appear to have risen much.
- Lightly spray a 9- x 13-inch baking pan. Divide dough into about 12 (larger) to 15 (smaller) buns. Butter your hands to form them into balls and arrange in the prepared pan.
- Cover the pan and let the buns rise for 1 hour, or until they’ve gotten puffy and smoosh into each other.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together egg wash ingredients and brush over the buns.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until buns are lightly golden. Set pan on a wire rack to cool.
- Once buns have cooled completely, stir together frosting ingredients. Pipe a cross shape onto each bun. Serve and enjoy.
*I like it on the orange-y side so I used 2. Adjust to your own preferences.
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
Maria Doss says
With Easter right around the corner, nothing warms my soul than a good old hot cross bun!!! Love the addition of cranberries:)
Kelsie says
Thank you Maria! Nothing screams EASTER quite like hot cross buns 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats says
I loooooooove when my house smells of yummy baked goodness! I have never made or even eaten a hot cross bun, but you sold me! XOXO
Kelsie says
Definitely try them! They’re so much fun to make and, of course, to eat :). Thank you Kelly!
Allie R Taylor says
Hey girl – these are GORGEOUS!!! I can almost smell them. Yes, definitely must try, PERFECT for Easter. You are inspiring me to get out the yeast. I was just up at King Arthur Store last weekend picking up baking supplies. Love that place. DANGEROUS place for me. My husband wants me outta there, and quick! Ha ha. Super job Kelsie.
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Allie! Break out that yeast! You won’t be sorry. KAF store is dangerous for me too–any baking supply store is :). Glad I’m not the only one!
Julia says
I spend way too much time on Instagram, too…it’s a habit I’m really trying to break! LOVE these cranberry-orange buns! I’ve never made hot cross buns myself, and this is looking like the recipe that will change that. SO flavorful and fun!
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who goes a little overboard on insta :). If you figure out how to break the habit PLEASE send me your tips! Thank you, Julia!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
I think your piping is fantastic. I made chocolate hot cross buns yesterday and my step son commented he would not mind trying some cranberry ones. Which made me think of orange. So your recipe is perfect timing 🙂
Kelsie says
Awwww thank you so much, Tandy! I’ve never made chocolate hot cross buns. I bet they’re delicious!
Vicki Bensinger says
These are beautiful and would be wonderful any time of year not just Easter. I love the combination of Cranberry and Orange. Nice recipe!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Vicki! I agree–hot cross buns should be a year-round thing 🙂
Milena | Craft Beering says
I am totally crushing on these. I love that you are using fresh squeezed OJ for the frosting too. I might double the ingredients only so I can eat some frosting guilt free while my son is at school:) And that rum in the dough, mmm. Awesome!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Milena! Haha–go for it! Guilt-free frosting is always the way to go 🙂
H.A.G. says
I love this idea for bringing to Easter brunch- so pretty and I love the cran/orange together!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much! They’ll definitely make an appearance at my Easter brunch 🙂
Kelly says
These look SO amazing! Love the cranberry and orange combo!!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Kelly! Me too 🙂
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
A few things: 1) I LOVE THESE 2) I’ve embraced the insta-slang and 3) I have dried cranberries just about jumping out of the cabinet to make these. These look amazing!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Alyssa! Why does insta have to be so darn addictive? I hate it/love it/can’t live without it :).
thebakingskillet says
The first ingredient is rum, so I gotta make these!! 😀 I love love orange and cranberry ever since I was introduced to this flavor in the form of a Starbucks muffin. Soooo delicious
PS – I ended up making green beer at home – food color + regular lager! (I DO NOT recommend this)
Kelsie says
Hahaha! Please tell me you got pictures of the beer? You have so much more courage than I do :). If you’re a rum lover you’ll soooo enjoy these! Thank you, Jenny!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Communicating in emoji only is a great idea. I mean, who has time for sentences? That’s so 1990. Lol. Jokes aside, I seriously have a bag of cranberries in my freezer and I was JUST thinking WTF am I going to do with those? Then you come to my rescue with these fabulous hot cross buns!! Yay! These look delicious and oh-so perfect for Easter!! Cheers!
Kelsie says
Soooo 1990! Haha :). Thank you so much, Cheyanne! I’m happy I could help!
Patrick @looneyforfood.com says
These look so good! Light and fluffy, I like mine on the orange side as well!
Kelsie says
Thank you Patrick! They’re very light and fluffy 🙂
Laura Dembowski (@piesandplots) says
I made hot cross buns a couple years ago and they were so good. I also keep fresh cranberries in my freezer, but dried ones are pretty tasty too and pair so well with orange.
Kelsie says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who keeps cranberries in the freezer :). Thank you so much, Laura!
Marcie Bidou says
I’m in love with the cranberry orange combination! I’ve never made hot cross buns and these look SO fluffy that I want to get in the kitchen and make them right now.
Kelsie says
Thank you Marcie! Cranberry and orange are soooo good together :). You definitely need to make hot cross buns sometime–they’re so much fun!
eastofedencook says
Not sure why, but I’ve never made Hot Cross Buns. (My mom was a cinnamon roll maker for Easter.) Your recipe sounds so scrumptious, this might be the year I switch up tradition!
Kelsie says
Ooooh I love the idea of cinnamon rolls for Easter. I might have to make those AND hot cross buns this year! Thank you!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I’m glad you’re a blogger and not a surgeon! I’d hate to miss out on all the yumminess you offer! These hot cross buns are gorgeous and so delicious!
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you so much, Annie! I’m glad I’m a blogger too. And anyone needing surgery probably is thanking their lucky stars I blog. . .
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
recent smells in my kitchen that aren’t quite as nice smelling as baked goods and hot cross buns: burnt popcorn and steak (admittedly, the steak smelled pretty good, just not at 1am. my roommate has weird eating patterns). anyways, cranberry and orange is always a tasty combo! and i’m willing to go hard on the fresh cranberries and salivate over the recipes if you post them (;
Kelsie says
Haha! Oh no–1 a.m. burned steak just doesn’t sound pleasant at all :). I’m so glad you’re willing to tolerate cranberry recipes for me. Thank you, Heather!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
There’s definitely nothing like the smell of freshly baked goodies going through the house! Can’t be beat! I love cranberries too and they pair so wonderfully with orange. I bet these taste amazing, especially warm right out of the oven. Hahaha…..I don’t have a steady hand either 😀 But these look amazing all the same!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Dawn! Yes, warm right out of the oven with a little butter these just can’t be beat! If you have any secrets to steady your hand AT ALL send them my way. . .
harrietemilys says
These look so delicious! Hot cross buns are my favourite! Love the orange and cranberry combination too. Yum! <3
Kelsie says
Thank you so much! Aren’t hot cross buns the best? I wish I could make them more often than just this time of year :).