Bread Maker Hot Cross Bun Loaf

This hot cross bun-inspired loaf is a lovely twist on a classic Easter treat – but honestly, it’s far too delicious to save just for spring. Made in the bread maker, it’s super easy to throw together and comes out soft, fragrant, and packed with juicy dried fruit and warming spices.

It’s especially good toasted and slathered in butter – perfect for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack with a cup of tea.

How To Make a Hot Cross Bun Loaf in a Bread Maker

This recipe is quite similar to the raisin bread I made in my bread maker, with just a few different ingredients.

What You Need

Strong White Bread Flour

Use 600g of strong white bread flour for a soft but structured loaf – perfect for handling all that dried fruit.

Dry Yeast

Add 1¼ teaspoons of dried yeast. If your bread maker has a separate yeast dispenser, pop it in there. If not, add it on top of the flour, making sure it doesn’t touch the liquid.

Butter

40g of butter, chopped into small pieces. This adds richness and gives the loaf a soft, brioche-like texture.

Sugar

2 tablespoons of sugar gives the loaf just the right amount of sweetness.

Salt

2 teaspoons of salt – this helps enhance the flavours and strengthen the dough structure.

Spices

For that classic hot cross bun flavour, you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice

You can adjust these depending on your preferences – see tips below.

Orange Zest

Zest of 1 orange adds a lovely citrusy freshness that complements the spices and fruit beautifully.

Water

Use 390ml of water, ideally at room temperature.

Dried Fruit

150g of mixed dried fruit – I used a mixed packed of dried fruit from the supermarket that had raisins, currants, sultanas and chopped mixed citrus peel in it.

If your bread maker has a fruit and nut dispenser, place the dried fruit in there. Otherwise, add it manually when your machine beeps (usually just after the kneading cycle).

Making It

Step 1: Add Ingredients to the Bread Maker

Place the flour, butter, sugar, salt, spices, orange zest, and water in the bread pan. Add the yeast last, either into the dispenser or on top of the flour, keeping it separate from the liquid.

If your machine has a fruit dispenser, add the dried fruit there. If not, wait until the bread maker signals you to add it manually.

Step 2: Select Your Settings

Choose the sweet bread setting (often Menu 3, but check your model).
Select XL loaf size and your preferred crust colour (medium or dark works well for this recipe).

Step 3: Let It Bake

Start the machine and let it do its thing.

Once the loaf is baked, carefully remove it from the pan and allow it to cool. As you can see this one got quite tall!

Once the bread has cooled down enough, slice the loaf and enjoy.

Step 4: Optional Glaze

If you want a glossy, traditional finish, gently heat 2 tablespoons of apricot jam or golden syrup and brush it over the warm loaf. I didn’t glaze this one, but it’s a lovely optional step if you fancy it.

Serving Suggestions

Slice and toast for breakfast or a teatime treat. It’s especially good with butter or a touch of marmalade.

Tips & Variations

• Adjust the spice: If you like a more subtle spice, reduce the cinnamon or mixed spice slightly. You can also add a pinch of ground cloves or nutmeg for a different twist.
• Swap the fruit: Try chopped dried apricots, cranberries, or a mix of whatever you have in the cupboard.

More Bread Maker Recipes

If you love using your bread machine, try one of these next:

• Bread Maker Raisin Bread
• Quick Bread Maker Bread
• Bread Maker Rolls Recipe
• Bread Maker Croissants