The Easiest Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Soft, sweet, and packed with rich chocolate flavor, these Easy Chocolate Hot Cross Buns come together in no time! Perfect for Easter or a cozy treat, this fuss-free recipe skips the complicated steps. It still delivers fluffy, spiced buns with melty chocolate chips and a classic cross on top. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, these buns will be a delicious addition to your table. You don’t need lengthy proofing!
Hot cross buns are a beloved Easter tradition, but what if we made them even better? Enter Chocolate Hot Cross Buns—a rich, sweet twist on the classic. Soft, spiced, and packed with melty chocolate chips, this easy recipe delivers delicious results without the fuss. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, you’ll love how simple and satisfying these buns are to make!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✅ Quick & Easy – No complicated steps or long proofing times.
✅ Chocolaty Goodness – A fun twist for chocolate lovers.
✅ Perfect for Easter & Beyond – Great for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat any time.
Final Thoughts
These Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are a fun, indulgent twist on a classic. Whether for Easter or just because, they’re easy, delicious, and sure to impress. Give them a try and let me know how they turn out! This recipe will make either 8 large buns or up to 16 smaller-sized buns.
Other Links and Recipes
If you prefer a fruity Hot Cross Bun, then look no further than this perfect recipe, Deliciously Quick Fruit Hot Cross Buns
You can watch me make these Chocolate Hot Cross Buns in this video Hot Cross Buns | Cheaper than Store-Bought | EASY RECIPE
You can also check out this NEW video showing two more variations of buns using this same recipe A NEW Take on My Hot Cross Buns Recipe
“The Easiest Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- 4 ½ cups plain flour
- 1 ½ cups warm water or milk add 5 tbsp milk powder if using water instead of milk
- 3 tsp dried yeast
- 5 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 50 g butter softened and cubed
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Paste for the crosses
- ¼ cup flour
- water enough to form a paste
Sugar syrup
- 3 tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup boiling water
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add water or milk, brown sugar and yeast together and stir to combine.
- Once the yeast has activated, add the remaining dough ingredients to the bowl.
- Mix with a mixer or by hand. If using a mixer, when the dough forms around the dough hook, continue to mix for another minute. If mixing by hand, continue to knead until the dough comes together.
- Cover the dough with a tea towel or glad wrap and allow to double in size. This process should take roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Once doubled in size, cut the dough into 10-16 equal pieces. Roll the dough balls into a bun shape and leave to double in size again on a lined baking tray. This process should take roughly 15-20 minutes.
- In the meantime, mix together the flour and water to form a thick paste for the crosses. The consistency should resemble paint.
- Preheat oven to fan-bake 180℃ or bake 200℃.
- Once the buns have doubled in size, pipe the crosses on the buns and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- To make the sugar syrup – combine the sugar and boiling water together. Brush over the buns once they come out of the oven.
