Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

The Delicious Spoon

Infused with cocoa powder and chocolate chunks, these Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are a sweet, decadent twist on the traditional Easter bun recipe.

- The Delicious Spoon

Cocoa Powder

key ingredient:

Ingredients:

– bread or all-purpose flour – castor sugar – cocoa powder – quick rise instant yeast – salt – milk; warmed – unsalted butter; melted and cooled – egg – chocolate chunks

1. Add 4 cups of flour, yeast, 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa powder and salt to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.

Mix Together

2. Add the warm milk, egg and butter and mix with until blended with a spoon or stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. If using a stand mixer, mix until the dough becomes smooth and an elastic dough forms,  Add a little extra flour if needed so that the dough is less sticky.  You want the dough to be pliable and to come away from the walls of the bowl. The dough will still be a little sticky but not enough to stick to your fingers.  This will take about 5 minutes on low.

Make the Dough

2. If mixing the dough by hand, once you have blended the ingredients in the bowl as well as you can, grease your fingers with a little butter, lightly flour a clean surface with the remaining flour and transfer the dough to the counter to knead.

If Making the Dough by Hand

3. Knead by hand for about 10 minutes or until the dough is nearly smooth and elastic. You want to be able to pull a little dough so that it can become almost see-through without breaking off.

Knead

4. Grease a large bowl and place the kneaded dough inside. Then spray a little cooking spray on top of the dough or grease with a little butter so that the dough does not stick to the bowl or dry out. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and place in a warm, draft free place to rise (proof) until doubled in size.  This will take about 45 to 90 minutes depending on the warmth of the space.

Proof

5. Once the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and place it back on a lightly floured surface. Shape the dough into a long log long enough to cut the dough into 12 equal pieces.  I find using dental floss to cut the dough most effective. Just loop a piece under the log of dough and pull tight up top and it will slice cleanly through without sticking.

Shape & Cut

6. Once the 12 pieces are cut, fold the edges of the slices underneath to create a ball.  Then put the ball back on the floured surface and cup one hand on top and roll the ball of dough around on the counter under your hand in a circular motion.  This will help shape the dough into a smoother more uniform ball.

Roll to Shape

7. Line a 9" X 13" baking sheet with parchment paper and place the balls of dough 3 across and 4 deep evenly on the baking sheet. Lightly spray or grease the tops of the buns with cooking spray or butter and cover once again with plastic wrap or a clean dishcloth.  Return the tray to a warm place for a second rise for about 30-4 minutes or until the dough has risen to just over double in size..

Rise

8. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Preheat the Oven

9. In a small bowl mix together the 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water. Whisk until smooth. Place the flour mixture into a small resealable sandwich bag or piping bag.  The mixture should be thick but still runny.

Mix Together

10.  Once the buns have risen, remove the cover and cut the tip off of the piping bag and carefully pipe crosses over each bun allowing the flour mixture to fall over the sides of each bun's curves.

Pipe Crosses

11. Bake the buns for about 20-25 minutes or until the surface has started to darken slightly from the sides.

Bake

12. While the buns are baking, add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and a 1/4 cup of water to a small bowl and whisk until the sugar is dissolved.

Whisk

13. When the buns are done baking, remove them from the oven and then baste the tops of the bun with the sugar glaze. Let the glaze set for a few minutes and then serve the buns warm or cooled.

Glaze

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Visit The Delicious Spoon for more notes and tips for making the BEST Chocolate Hot Cross Buns!

Enjoy!

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