We have all heard of the rhyme hot cross buns. No wonder this recipe is so popular with kids and adults likewise. Every one feels like a kid again and get back to simpler days. This old folk song stayed with the foodie in me ever since childhood. As April comes along, so I can see packets of hot cross buns and chocolate cross buns on the supermarket shelves
Have you ever considered the possibility of making Hot Cross Buns recipe, the traditional Easter delicacy, using chocolate in the airfryer ? This variation of the traditional recipe blends the flavor of chocolate with the spiced sweetness of a cross bun. This article will introduce a hot cross chocolate bun recipe along with variations and substitutions to personalize it.
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Equipment
- fan-forced oven
- stand mixer
- pastry brush
- mixing bowl
- piping bag
Ingredients
To make vegan hot cross chocolate buns, you’ll need
- All purpose flour/ plain flour or bread flour
- cocoa powder,
- instant yeast or active dry yeast
- caster sugar or maple syrup,
- salt & spices,
- vegetable oil
- water
- an egg replacer such as chia seeds
- chocolate chips.
For the cross, you’ll need flour,cocoa water,oil and a piping bag.
Refer to the recipe card for exact quantities
Chocolate hot cross buns recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
- fan-forced oven if not using Air fryer
- stand mixer
- pastry brush
- Mixing bowl
- piping bag
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water for activating yeast
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or use sugar
- 2 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder I prefer dutch processed
- ¼ cup water for soaking chia seed meal
- 1 teaspoon powdered chia seeds you can replace 1 teaspoon chia seeds and water with 1 egg.
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon adjust as per taste
For the cross buns paste
- ½ tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoon water or more to make a thick paste
- water for the paste
For the glaze
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Add sugar or maple syrup to lukewarm water, mix until it dissolves. Add yeast to sugar water, so that it activates. This will make the mix frothy and activate in 15 minutes.
- To make the dough, combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough is formed.
- Knead the dough with a dough hook in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.
- After kneading the dough, place a cover over it and allow it to rest in a warm place for approximately one hour. When the dough has expanded, combine the chocolate chips and knead until they are evenly spread.
- Divide the dough into buns and put them on a tray . Cover the buns with a tea towel and let them sit for a further 30 minutes.
- To make the cross, combine flour,cocoa,oil and water to make a thick paste.
- Put the paste into a piping bag and pipe crosses onto the buns.
Choco chip hot cross buns in the airfryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 300°F/150C.
- The buns should be cooked for total of 13-15 minutes, or until they sound hollow when you tap them. Brush them with oil once done.
Choco chip hot cross buns in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 375°F/190C.
- The buns should be cooked for 17-18 minutes, or until they sound hollow when you tap them. Once finished, take them out of the oven and allow them to cool.
Nutrition
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Instructions
Add sugar or maple syrup to lukewarm water, mix until it dissolves. Add yeast to sugar water in a small bowl, so that it activates. This will make the yeast mixture frothy and activate in 15 minutes.
To make the dough, combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough is formed.
Knead the dough with a dough hook in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.
After kneading the dough, place a cover over it and allow it to rest in a warm place for approximately one hour. When the dough has expanded, combine the dark chocolate chips and knead until they are evenly spread.
Spread little flour on the baking tray/tin.Divide the dough into buns and put them on the lightly floured surface . Cover the buns with a tea towel and let them sit for a further 30 minutes.
To make the cross shape, combine flour,cocoa,oil and water to make a thick paste in a mixing bowl.
Put the paste into a piping bag and pipe crosses onto the buns.
How to make choco chip hot cross buns in the airfryer ?
Preheat the air fryer to 300°F/150C.
The buns should be cooked for total of 13-15 minutes, or until they sound hollow when you tap them. Brush your air fryer hot cross buns them with oil once done.
Once finished, take them out of the oven and allow them to cool.
How to make best chocolate hot cross bun recipe in oven?
The difference in using an oven is the baking time and tempreture. Since air fryers heat up quickly and are more effecient that the oven hence the difference.
Preheat the oven to 375°F/190C.
The buns should be cooked for 17-18 minutes, or until they sound hollow when you tap them. Once finished, take them out of the oven and allow them to cool.
Variations and Substitutions
- There are numerous methods of customizing hot cross chocolate buns. You may substitute raisins or dried cranberries for the chocolate chips. It is possible to add various spices, such as nutmeg or cardamom, for a different take.
- You can also make them as muffins by placing ball of dough in a muffin cup and piping them like above. Another great idea is baking them as a hot cross bagel recipe.
- If you are not vegan, you can use an egg in place of chia seed mix .Also you could use a mix of unsalted butter and milk to brush the buns instead of oil.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a plastic bag with a small corner cut off.
Storage
If you are wondering how long do hot cross chocolate buns last? They’ll stay fresh for about 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. I usually cover them with some parchment paper or you can cover them with a plastic wrap / cling film but that is optional. You can reheat them before consumption.
FAQ
In a preheated airfryer, heat the buns in the air fryer basket for 2 minutes at 180C/355F.
Yes, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. To thaw, let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.
Yes,in a preheated airfryer, toast the buns for 2 minutes at 180C/355F.
Conclusion
hot cross chocolate buns are a delightful and celebratory snack to prepare for Easter or anytime. This easy hot cross buns recipe is straightforward and can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Sample the robust flavor of chocolate combined with the spiced sweetness of a cross bun. It makes for a delicious breakfast with a cup of tea or glass of whole milk.
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