This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. For extra data, please see our affiliate coverage.
These Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns are a scrumptious twist on a basic Easter recipe. Wealthy chocolate taste with gentle and pillowy dough. Serve heat for a festive breakfast or at any time of the day for a decadent chocolate deal with!

What are Scorching Cross Buns?
Scorching cross buns are candy, spiced buns historically made with currants or raisins and marked with a cross on prime. Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns are a preferred variation of this Easter basic made with chocolate dough and crammed with chocolate chunks (or chips)! These buns are hottest in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Eire, particularly round Easter. Whereas they’re much less widespread within the U.S., you possibly can nonetheless discover them, significantly in areas with a robust British or Irish affect. Historically, sizzling cross buns are eaten throughout Lent and on Good Friday, with the cross symbolizing the crucifixion of Christ.
I really like how these buns are tied to Easter traditions, with some cultures believing they bring about good luck or guarantee lasting friendships when shared. I made a decision to change issues up this 12 months for Easter and provides these scrumptious chocolate sizzling cross buns a attempt (together with my brand-new carrot cake cheesecake and fruit pizza)! I hope you do, too and love them as a lot as I did! I additionally extremely advocate that you just attempt my lemon thumbprint cookies and raspberry lemon cake for Easter this 12 months!
Tips on how to Make Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns
The Elements: This recipe is a bit detailed, so I’ve included loads of step-by-step pictures to assist information you thru! The total recipe, with ingredient quantities and directions, is within the card beneath – the recipe beneath is simply an outline with useful step-by-step pictures. The picture beneath exhibits each single substances you’ll want—seize a screenshot on your buying checklist!
Put together the dough: In a medium saucepan, warmth milk till steaming (however not boiling), then add butter and blend till melted. Put aside to chill barely. Within the bowl of a stand mixer, mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and yeast. Combine with a whisk. Verify the temperature of the milk combination, then add it together with a frivolously overwhelmed egg to the flour combination.
Combine the dough: Combine by hand till a tough dough kinds. Activate the mixer on the lowest pace and blend for five minutes till the dough is easy and elastic. For hand kneading, knead on a floured floor for about 10 minutes.
Add chocolate chunks and blend for two minutes on low pace, then work in any remaining chunks by hand.
First rise: Frivolously oil a glass bowl and switch the dough into it. Cowl with cling wrap or a moist towel and let rise in a heat place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, till doubled in dimension.
Divide the dough into 12 equal parts: Put together a 13” x 9” baking pan with parchment paper. As soon as the dough has risen, flip it out onto a frivolously floured floor and divide it into 12 equal parts.
Second rise: Roll every portion right into a ball and place them within the ready baking pan with some house between every. Cowl the pan with cling wrap or a moist towel and let rise in a heat place for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The buns ought to puff up and contact one another.
Make the crosses: Preheat the oven to 375ºF. In a small bowl, combine flour and water to a toothpaste-like consistency. Switch to a piping bag and pipe crosses onto every bun.
Bake: Place the pan within the preheated oven on the center rack and bake for 20 minutes, or till the buns are darkish brown and springy to the contact. Take away from the oven. Warmth honey within the microwave for 10-15 seconds, then brush the nice and cozy buns with the honey.
Greatest Flour for Selfmade Buns
I usually use bread flour for baking yeasted breads because it has the next quantity of protein and gluten which suggests your baked items could have a greater total texture. I’ve examined and made this recipe with all-purpose flour this time and it really works high quality, too!
Tips on how to inform when the Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns are completed?
As soon as baked the buns will probably be darkish brown and springy once you contact them. I like to recommend utilizing a thermometer: the inner temperature of the dough must be 190ºF.
Serving Recommendations
These Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns are finest served heat. Slice any leftover buns in half and broile for a minute or two on all sides. I used honey for brushing, you may as well use maple syrup. I like serving them simply as they’re however you possibly can actually add butter or jam.
Storage Directions
Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature 2-3 days. Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns could be frozen for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge then reheat within the oven or beneath a broiler.
Extra Easter Brunch & Dessert Recipes
Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns
These Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns are a decadent twist on the basic Easter recipe, that includes wealthy chocolate dough and gooey chocolate chunks. Serve them heat for a festive breakfast or get pleasure from as an after-dinner dessert!
Elements
For the Buns
- 1 ¼ cups complete milk
- 3 ½ tablespoons butter
- 3 ¼ cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup dutch processed cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons On the spot yeast or quick motion yeast
- 1 egg frivolously overwhelmed
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips
- ½ cup milk chocolate chunks or chips
Directions
Put together the Dough
-
In a medium sized saucepan warmth the milk till steaming, however not boiling then add the butter. The milk will probably be sizzling sufficient that the butter melts into it. Combine collectively then put aside.
-
Within the massive bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment fitted, add the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt and yeast. Hand combine with a whisk to mix.
-
Verify the temperature of the new milk combination (assuming it’s not too sizzling – see notes), pour the milk and frivolously overwhelmed egg into the blending bowl then combine by hand to a tough shaggy dough.
-
Flip the mixer on at its lowest pace and blend for five minutes. It is best to have a easy and elastic dough. If kneading by hand accomplish that on a frivolously floured floor – it will take round 10 minutes.
-
Tip within the chocolate chunks and blend once more on the bottom pace for two minutes. The chocolate chunks could have principally integrated into the dough. If there are any unfastened ones or heaps poking by way of the dough, work them into the dough by hand.
The First Rise
-
Frivolously oil a glass bowl and switch the dough out into it. Cowl with cling wrap or a moist kitchen towel and go away someplace heat to rise till doubled in dimension. This may take 1 to 1 ½ hours relying on the temperature.
-
Put together a 13” x 9” baking pan with parchment paper.
-
When the dough has risen, flip it out onto a frivolously floured floor and divide it into 12 equal sections.
The Second Rise
-
Roll the sections of dough into ball shapes then place them within the baking pan with some house in-between. Cowl the pan with cling wrap or a moist kitchen towel and go away to rise someplace heat as earlier than. This second rise will take 45 minutes to 1 hour relying on the temperature. After the second rise the buns could have overrated and joined collectively.
Make the Crosses
-
Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
-
Add the flour and water to a small bowl and blend collectively till utterly mixed. The combination must be the consistency of toothpaste. If it’s not, add somewhat extra flour or water till you attain the specified consistency. Add to a piping bag with the tip snipped off and punctiliously pipe crosses on prime of every bun.
Bake
-
Place the baking pan within the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 20 minutes or till the buns are a darkish brown and really feel springy to the contact.
-
Take away from the oven.
-
Warmth the honey within the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
-
Utilizing a pastry brush, coat the tops and sides of the buns with the honey whereas the buns are nonetheless heat.
Notes
- The milk temperature is vital: The milk must be heated to round 110ºF. In case you no thermometer is obtainable, I love to do the finger dip check by placing my finger into the milk. If it feels sizzling however not so sizzling I can’t go away your finger in there it’s high quality to make use of. If it’s too sizzling it can kill the yeast so in the event you’re undecided all the time err on the facet of warning and look ahead to it to chill down earlier than utilizing.
- The tools it’s worthwhile to combine and kneed the dough: For the preliminary mixture of the dough to a “shaggy” dough use a danish whisk or your arms. When you flip in your mixer to work the dough with the hook it will take 5 minutes however will also be completed by hand and it’ll take round 10 minutes to attain a easy and elastic dough.
- First rise (proofing your dough): When it’s time to proof the dough (first rise) I like to recommend taking a photograph of it within the bowl, that means you’ll be capable of choose whether or not or not it’s doubled in dimension. You are able to do this rise in a proofing drawer which is the optimum temperature or in the event you don’t have one you possibly can flip your oven on to 120ºF let it warmth up then flip it off and put the dough in with the door closed.
- Dividing the dough into balls: You possibly can eyeball this or when you have some scales you possibly can weigh them. Go for round 70g (2.5 ounces) every.
- Tips on how to form the buns: To roll the dough into easy balls, take a piece and cup your hand excessive of it then utilizing a medium agency stress roll the dough on a piece floor till it’s easy and ball formed.
- Ideas for making and piping the crosses: The consistency for the combination of the crosses is described within the recipe above. It must be thick sufficient that it doesn’t run when piped. Use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to pipe the crosses with as regular a hand as you possibly can handle.
- Step-by-step pictures: I present tremendous useful step-by-step pictures ABOVE this recipe card. In case you want a visible reference, scroll up!
Diet
Diet Data
Chocolate Scorching Cross Buns
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* P.c Day by day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie food regimen.
Diet Disclaimer:
The dietary data on this web site is just an estimate and is supplied for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary data for any recipe on this web site is just not assured. It shouldn't be used as an alternative choice to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.