These Foolproof Easy Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns are soft, fluffy, and lightly spiced with a hint of sweetness. Quick to make and perfectly golden, they’re ideal for Easter, brunch, or anytime you crave a comforting homemade treat.
Bring a classic bakery treat home with this Foolproof Easy Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns recipe.
Soft, fluffy, and lightly spiced, these buns are perfectly golden with a sweet glaze that makes them irresistible.
Quick to prepare and baked right in the air fryer, they’re perfect for Easter, brunch, or anytime you want a comforting homemade snack without the fuss.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Soft and Fluffy: Perfectly tender buns every single time.
- Quick Air Fryer Baking: Ready in a fraction of traditional oven time.
- Lightly Spiced Flavor: Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg make them irresistible.
- Sweet Glaze Finish: Adds a beautiful shine and extra touch of sweetness.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Great for Easter, brunch, or a cozy homemade treat.
Ingredients Needed
- Raisins or Dried Cranberries: Sweet dried fruit for texture and natural sweetness.
- Hot Water: Warm liquid to activate the yeast quickly.
- Dry Instant Yeast: Fast-acting yeast for fluffy, soft dough rise.
- Warm Milk: Slightly heated milk to mix into dough evenly.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and feeds yeast for rising.
- Butter, Unsalted & Room Temperature: Softened fat for tender, rich dough flavor.
- Large Eggs, Room Temperature: Adds structure, richness, and helps bind dough.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor and balances sweetness in dough.
- All-Purpose Flour: Main structure for soft, fluffy hot cross buns.
- Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice for classic hot cross bun flavor.
- Ground Clove: Adds aromatic, slightly sweet spice note.
- Ground Nutmeg: Provides subtle, warm, fragrant spice for dough.
- Powdered Sugar (for Glaze): Fine sugar for smooth, sweet finishing glaze.
- Milk (for Glaze): Liquid to thin powdered sugar into glaze.
- Orange or Lemon Juice (for Glaze): Citrus adds brightness and tang to glaze.
Recipe Variations
- Air Fryer Vegan Hot Cross Buns Recipe: Replace the butter with plant-based margarine or coconut oil, swap the eggs for flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg), and use a plant-based milk such as almond, oat, or soy milk. Make sure any glaze you add uses non-dairy milk or a simple powdered sugar-water mixture.
- Air Fryer Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes xanthan gum, allow the dough extra time to rise since gluten-free dough can be denser, and handle the buns gently when shaping to prevent breaking. You may also need to bake them slightly longer at lower temperatures to ensure they cook through evenly.
How To Make Easy Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns
Step One: Lightly grease a small baking pan that fits inside your air fryer basket and set it aside.
Step Two: In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk, and lemon or orange juice until thick. Pour the icing into a Ziploc bag and set aside for later use.
Step Three: Place the raisins in a small bowl of hot water and let them soak for 10–15 minutes, then drain.
Step Four: In a separate small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine ¼ cup warm milk with instant yeast and ½ teaspoon sugar. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes until foamy and doubled in size.
Step Five: Add milk, sugar, butter, and salt to a large bowl or stand mixer, then mix by hand or with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat two of the eggs separately and add them to the mixture, followed by the foamy yeast mixture and the spices—cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg—until fully combined.
Step Six: Attach the dough hook to your mixer and add the flour to the egg mixture, one cup at a time. Knead on low speed until all the flour is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth but slightly sticky.
Step Seven: Gently fold the drained raisins or cranberries, patted dry with a paper towel, into the dough. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for 45–60 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
Step Eight: On a lightly floured surface, cut the dough in half and then divide each half to form 12 even balls. Place the dough balls on a cutting board or pan, cover with a damp cloth, and let them rise again for 30–40 minutes.
Step Nine: Place six of the dough balls into your greased baking pan. Preheat the air fryer to 315°F and cook the buns for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, beat the remaining egg with a teaspoon of water to make an egg wash. After 5 minutes, remove the pan from the air fryer and brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash. Return the pan to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3–5 minutes, adjusting time as needed depending on your air fryer and pan size. If the centers are still doughy, cook for another 2–4 minutes until fully baked.
Step Ten: Remove from the fryer to cool. Once cooled, take your icing bag, cut a small tip off the corner, and pipe the crosses onto the tops of each bun. Serve warm, and enjoy!
Easy Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns Recipe Tips
- Pat Dough Dry: Lightly flour your surface and hands to prevent sticking while shaping buns.
- Evenly Sized Buns: Make all dough balls the same size for uniform cooking in the air fryer.
- Egg Wash Matters: Brushing the buns with egg wash gives a shiny, golden finish.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Cook buns in batches if needed to ensure even heat circulation.
- Check Doneness: If the centers are doughy, add a few extra minutes in the air fryer.
- Cool Slightly Before Glazing: Let buns cool 5–10 minutes before piping or brushing glaze to prevent melting.
- Adjust Air Fryer Times: Every model is different, so keep an eye on buns the first time you make them.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating Instructions
- Storing: Let the hot cross buns cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep them covered to maintain softness and prevent drying out.
- Freezing: Wrap cooled buns individually in plastic wrap or foil, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months and thawed at room temperature when ready to eat.
- Reheating: Warm the buns in the air fryer at 300°F for 3–5 minutes or in a preheated oven at 325°F for 5–7 minutes. You can also microwave for 15–20 seconds, but the air fryer or oven helps keep the exterior slightly crisp.
Foolproof Easy Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns Recipe Faqs
Why didn’t my Hot Cross Buns rise? The most common culprit is expired yeast or liquid that was too hot. If your milk/water is over 45°C (113°F), it can kill the yeast. For a foolproof rise, ensure your liquids are lukewarm and your proofing area is draft-free.
Can I put parchment paper in the air fryer? Yes, but with a caveat! Only add the parchment paper once the buns are ready to be placed on top of it. Never “preheat” the air fryer with loose paper, as the fan can pull it into the heating element and create a fire hazard.
How do I prevent the tops from burning in the air fryer? Since the heating element in an air fryer is very close to the food, the tops can brown quickly. If they look dark before the centers are done, loosely “tent” a piece of foil over the buns for the last 3 minutes of cooking.
Can I make these Hot Cross Buns ahead of time? Absolutely. You can do the first rise in the fridge overnight. This slow fermentation actually develops a better flavor. Just let the dough come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before shaping and air frying.
How do I get that classic sticky glaze? The secret is glazing them while they are screaming hot. As soon as you pull the basket out, brush them with warmed apricot jam or a simple sugar-water syrup (equal parts sugar and boiling water).
Do I need to flip the buns in the air fryer? No. Unlike fries or chicken wings, flipping the buns will deflate them and ruin the “cross” design. The air circulation in most modern air fryers is sufficient to cook the bottoms thoroughly.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
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- AIR FRYER COPYCAT DUNKIN DONUTS BAGEL MINIS
- EASY AIR FRYER BAKING POWDER BISCUITS
- AIR FRYER BLUEBERRY ICE-CREAM BREAD
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- AIR FRYER EVERYTHING BAGEL BREAD
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Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns
Description
Ingredients
Buns:
- 1/2 cup raisins, or dried cranberries
- 1 cup hot water
- 3/4 tablespoons dry instant yeast, about 1 packet
- 3/4 cup warm milk, divided
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon
- 4 tablespoon butter, unsalted & room temperature
- 3 large eggs, room temperature, and divided
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon milk
- 1 teaspoon orange or lemon juice
Instructions
- Grease a small baking pan that will fit inside of your air fryer basket and set it aside.
- Mix the powdered sugar, milk, and orange juice until the mixture becomes a thick icing. Pour into a ziploc bag for later.
- In a small bowl, soak raisins in the hot water for 10-15, then drain.
- In a separate small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together ¼ cup of the warm milk with the instant yeast and ½ teaspoon of sugar. Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes, the yeast should become foamy and double in size.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, add the remaining milk and sugar, butter, and salt. Mix by hand or with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth.
- Beat 2 of the eggs and add them to the butter mixture. Pour in the yeast mixture, followed by the cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.
- Switch to a dough hook on your mixer and pour the flour into the egg mixture one cup at a time. Knead on low speed until all flour is incorporated and the dough becomes slightly sticky and smooth.
- Use a paper towel to dry the plumped raisins or cranberries, and mix them into the dough. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl and cover with a damn cloth. Allow to rise for 45-60 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- On a lightly floured surface, slice the dough in half. Split the halves, and then form 12 even balls from the dough. On a cutting board or pan, cover the 12 dough balls with the damp cloth and let rise again for 30-40 minutes.
- Take 6 rolls and place inside of your greased baking pan. Set your air fryer to 315F and cook the rolls for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, beat the remaining egg with a teaspoon of water. After the 5 minutes, remove the basket from the fryer and brush the tops of the buns with the wash. Return to the air fryer and cook for another 3-5 minutes, depending on your fryer and pan size. If the center of buns are still doughy, return to the fryer for an additional 2-4 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove from the fryer to cool. Once cooled take your icing bag and cut a small tip off the corner and pipe the crosses onto the tops of each bun.
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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