Spiced Hot Cross Buns with Cinnamon Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-25 · Updated 2026-03-25

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Traditional sweet buns marked with a cross, glazed with a warm cinnamon syrup for a festive touch. This British-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 12, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 45 min Cook: 20 min Serves 12 British cuisine 220 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup (warm) milk
1/2 cup (melted) butter
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup (made with 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp cinnamon) cinnamon syrup
1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp milk egg wash

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in the center and add warm milk, melted butter, and 1 tbsp water. Mix until a dough forms. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth.
Step 2: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size. Shape into 12 buns and place on a baking sheet. Cover and let rise another 30 minutes.
Step 3: Brush buns with egg wash. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes until golden. While still warm, brush with cinnamon syrup and let set before serving.