As you know I’ve been on a bit of a Hot Cross Bun baking spree. When I’ve been thinking about the different variations of buns I could make, it occurred to me that I’d forgotten about the good old Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns.
I admit I used to be a little bit of a Hot Cross Bun traditionalist, and would refuse to buy or even taste a hot cross bun which wasn’t filled with fruit (and don’t even get me started on fruitless Hot Cross Buns!) but a couple of years ago I finally succumbed to the pressure and tried a Choc Chip Hot Cross Bun and there has been no turning back since then.
Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast
- ½ cup of caster sugar 115g
- 11/2 cups of lukewarm milk 375g
- 41/4 cups of plain flour 640g
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 50 g of melted butter
- 1 egg
- 230 g of chocolate chips
- 100 g of milk chocolate melts - extra
- 2 tablespoons of apricot jam
- 2 tablespoons of water
Instructions
- Line a 23cm cake tin with baking paper and lightly oil a large mixing bowl before setting both aside until needed.
- Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and all of the lukewarm milk into a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture should have started to foam, which is a sign the yeast is active.
- In a large bowl (different to the one you have already oiled), add the flour, cinnamon, egg, butter, chocolate chips, remaining sugar and activated yeast mixture. Use a butter knife to mix and combine the ingredients until a dough forms – it will be sticky and the chocolate will melt a little so don't worry!
- Turn the dough onto a floured bench and knead for approximately 8 minutes or until the dough begins to feel elastic.
- Place the dough into the prepared oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and sit in a warm place for around an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 12 equal pieces before rolling into balls.
- Place the dough balls into the prepared cake tin, cover with a tea towel and place the tin in a warm spot for another 30 minutes to allow the dough to rise again.
- While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 200 degrees.
- Once the dough has risen, place the tray into the oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden and spring back when touched.
- To prepare your glaze, place the apricot jam and water into a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing to combine.
- Brush the glaze over the still warm Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns before carefully transferring the buns onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the buns are cold, melt the extra milk chocolate melts and place it in a piping bag before piping the crosses onto the top of each bun.
Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns Thermomix Instructions:
1. Lightly oil a large bowl and line a 23cm cake tin with baking paper and set aside until needed.
2. Place the yeast, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and all of the milk into your thermomix bowl and cook for 2 minutes on 37 degrees, speed 1. Leave the yeast mixture in the bowl whilst you move onto the next steps.
3. Add the flour, cinnamon, egg, butter and remaining sugar into the thermomix bowl. Mix for 15 seconds on speed 7 or until all ingredients have combined.
4. Knead for 1 ½ minutes using the kneading function before adding the chocolate chips and kneading for a further 1 ½ minutes.
5. Follow the instructions as above from step 5.
The first few times I made these, I was worried that I was doing something wrong as the chocolate chips always seemed to melt whilst combining the ingredients and kneading them. I’ve since come to accept that this is to be expected when it’s still 30 + degrees here in Brisbane (hello autumn, where are you?) and I actually quite enjoy the taste and texture of the melted chocolate throughout the buns.
Have you made any Hot Cross Buns yet?
Do you also think chocolate chips make everything taste better?
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid
These are ace, especially for the dried fruit haters in your life. I found some fruit free buns in the supermarket at the weekend, but these would be much more delicious!
laurenm83
These are WAAAAAAY more delicious than fruit free buns – those things should be banned 😉
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
These look so totally perfect!! I love that you’ve used chocolate on top too! Perfect!
laurenm83
Thank you, you can never have too much chocolate right?!?!
Kat - The Organised Housewife
Ooh these look delicious! I do love a good homemade hot cross bun.:)
laurenm83
Me too Kat! There is nothing better for morning tea in my opinion 🙂
Kirsty @ My Home Truths
I’m still a traditionalist and can’t do bread and chocolate together. Yes, that also includes nutella. I’m weird, I know!!!!!
laurenm83
That’s not weird at all. I can do Nutella Hot Cross Buns, but nutella smeared on fresh bread is a big no from me.
Jessica @ Sweet Menu
Oooh chocolate hot cross buns are my weakness! These look incredible!!!
laurenm83
Thanks Jessica. They are a weakness of mine too – I have many though!
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
We made homemade hot cross buns as kids with our teacher but not sure I have the skills now. Plus then I’d just eat them all warm with LASHINGS of butter x
laurenm83
That is the BEST way to eat them!
Lisa @ Twinkle Little Soul
Of course everything is better with chocolate chips! Is that even a question? Haha! Seriously though, these look delish. And I 100% agree with your sentiments on fruitless HCBs – it’s just not right x
laurenm83
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who feels this way!
Tash @ Gift Grapevine
You can take the chocolate eggs, it’s all about hot cross buns at Easter for me! I’ll take them any way they come and do enjoy the choc chip variety but the good old original fruit hot cross bun, toasted with butter is still my favourite.
laurenm83
Oh my goodness, wash your mouth out!!! 😉 While I agree a good old fashioned toasted hot cross bun with lashings of butter is pretty amazing, there is always room for easter eggs too!
di @ lime&soda
Yes. Everything is definitely better with Chocolate. I’ve never made hot cross buns, but might be tempted to now.
laurenm83
I love your thinking, if you try them I’d love to hear how they go 🙂
Mum Of Five Girls
These look delicious Lauren!
I’ve never made hot cross buns but I might put them on my list of things to make this Easter!
laurenm83
You really should!
Maxabella
My husbie says he’s going to make these for Easter morning tea… I’ll let you know how he goes!! x
laurenm83
Lucky you! Can’t wait to hear all about it x
Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy
Ok, I’m going to admit something. I’ve only ever had a choc chip hot cross bun once….still not sure if I’m a fan…but, I’m sure yours will convert me! 😉
laurenm83
Ooh, now that’s a challenge. I’ll have to make a batch for you 🙂
Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie
Yum! I do love a choc-chip hot cross bun & these sound perfect! Might have to get my bake on xx
laurenm83
Thanks Liz, I hope you enjoy them 🙂