Air Fryer Hot Cross Buns

We are going to begin preparing the dough. Add the 2 ½ cups of all-purpose or cake flour into a mixing bowl.

Next add in the baking powder & the yeast.

Add in the brown sugar & the salt.

Then add in the cinnamon powder & the all spice powder.

If all spice powder isn’t on hand or available to you, you may omit it from the recipe or simply prepare your own in no time – if you have the ingredients. All you need is 1 whole cinnamon stick, 20 cloves & 1 whole nutmeg. Place these whole ingredients into a coffee grinder.

Blitz until it becomes powder form.

The all spice is done just like that. Store in a small spice jar/bottle.

I usually get it from Woolworths.

Mix all the dry ingredients together.

Thereafter, add in the butter.

Using your fingers, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

In a separate bowl, crack in the egg.

Pour in the vanilla essence.

Using a fork, beat the eggs & vanilla essence until combined.

Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture.

Thereafter pour in the warm water & warm milk.

Mix until combined.

Knead the dough for 10 minutes, adding more flour if needed until the dough becomes smooth.

Lightly grease a bowl & pat excess oil from hands onto the dough so that is does not dry out.

Cover the bowl with cling wrap & set aside in warm area to rise for a minimum of 1 hour.

After the dough has rested, you will notice it double in size.

Punch down the dough.

Knead the dough for a few seconds.

At this point the dough may be left as is or you may go ahead & add in raisins or currants if preferred.

Smush all the raisins or currants into the dough.

Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces individual balls.

Roll each portion into balls.

Grease a small casserole with spraying oil & place the balls side by side into the casserole.

Cover the casserole with a dish towel & allow to proof for 30 minutes.

Once the dough balls have proofed, notice how they become enclosed together.

Add the flour & baking powder to a small bowl.

Next, pour in the water.

Mix well until it forms a paste. It shouldn’t be too runny or too thick.

Empty the flour paste to a piping bag, nozzle or a plastic bag, gently drag over the paste forming crosses over the dough balls.

Press the “Bake” button on the Instant Vortex Air Fryer or the “Air Fry” button on other air fryers. Adjust the “Time” to 00:20 (20 Minutes) & the “Temperature” to 171° Celsius or 339° Fahrenheit.

Allow it to preheat & when it reads “Add Food”, remove the air fryer basket.

Carefully place the casserole into the basket.

Add the hot water & the golden syrup & the to a bowl.

Mix well.

When the Air Fryer reads 00:02 which is 2 minutes before it switches off, remove the air fryer basket.

The buns should be nicely browned.

Brush the glaze over the buns.

Pop the basket back into the air fryer for the remaining 2 minutes so that the glaze can dry up a bit.

Once the glaze has dried, these Hot Cross Buns are ready to be gobbled.

Quick tip: when you remove the whole batch of hot cross buns from the casserole, be sure that the under side is baked as well – if not simply flip the hot cross buns still intact & air fry bottom side up for a few minutes.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

The inside should be perfectly cooked & super fluffy.

They are best served with a thick layer of butter.