Easter is fast approaching and whilst the supermarkets and social media are awash with creme eggs and hot cross buns I decided to create a variation on the tradition and developed these delicious Hot Cross Scones!
They are packed with fruit and spices, just like a traditional hot cross bun but with the texture of a scone. Perfect for afternoon tea with cream and jam or perhaps a nice quick breakfast when spread with butter. Either way, I think they are delicious…
All scones are best eaten whilst still warm from the oven, but they will keep in a cake tin for a few days; I just like to pop mine into the microwave for a minute or so to reheat before serving.
You could miss out the ‘bun wash’ part at the end of the recipe if you like, but I really love how it gives the scones a nice shiny coating and mimics the traditional sticky outer of a hot cross bun.
Oh, and don’t ask me how you pronounce these. I don’t know whether I say ‘sc-oh-n’e or ‘sc-on’e but does it really matter when they taste this good?!
Hot Cross Scones
A fusion of the soft, delicious scone with the spice and fruit of a traditional hot cross bun.
Ingredients
- 1 medium egg
- 150ml whole milk
- 1tbsp lemon juice
- 250g self-raising flour
- ½tsp baking powder
- 2tbsp golden caster sugar
- 50g butter or baking spread
- A pinch of salt
- ½tsp mixed spice
- ½tsp cinnamon
- ¼ whole nutmeg, grated
- Zest of 1 orange
- 125g mixed dried fruit (raisins, sultanas etc)
- 2tbsp plain flour
- 1tsp golden caster sugar
- A pinch of mixed spice
Instructions
1. Mix the egg, milk and lemon juice together in a jug and put to one side.
2. Place the rest of the ingredients except the fruit in the bowl of a stand mixer and pulse slowly until the butter is rubbed in and the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Add the fruit and around half of the egg and milk mixture then mix. Add enough of the remaining egg and milk until it comes together as a dough.
4. Divide the dough into 6 and roughly shape them into a rounded scone shape. I don’t use a cutter as I prefer the more informal shapes created by hand.
5. Place the scones onto a baking tray lined with parchment and brush some of the leftover egg and milk onto the tops.
6. For the crosses, mix the plain flour with around 1.5tbsp water to create a smooth paste. Pour into either a piping bag or a plastic sandwich bag with the corner cut off and pipe crosses over the top of the scones.
7. Bake at 180ºC for 25-30 minutes or until the scones are golden brown and cooked through.
8. As soon as the scones leave the oven, make up the bun wash by combining the sugar and mixed spice with a tbsp of boiling water. Brush this all over the scones a few times until shiny. Leave to cool and eat when still warm!
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6 large scones
Check out some of these other great scone recipes from friends:
Sounds delicious – anything with mixed spice in is a winner in my view!
Thanks! I agree, love a bit of mixed spice 🙂
What a great idea Kevin, a great twist on a traditional recipe. I know I'd love these. Thanks for linking to me 🙂
Thanks Jacqueline, I'm always happy to link to your yummy recipes!
Those look fabulous! I love a hot cross bun for breakfast, might have to give these a try at the weekend instead.
Ooh, sounds like a plan! They are so much quicker than yeasted buns too.
Wow these look AMAZING. I'm definitely going to bookmark this recipe. Thanks for sharing x
Thanks Amy, I'm glad you like 🙂
Hot cross scones are a great idea. I love how you made the cross on the top – they look so professional!
Thank you Caroline. I made the cross in the exact same way as you would usually do it on buns. I didn't know if it would work but it did! I hid the first few I did though… They were a little wonky!
Brilliant take on a hot cross bun Kevin and I do like a good scone – mostly with jam and cream!
Thanks Choclette. I love a scone too and definitely with cream, jam and a big pot of tea.
love hot cross buns! these look amazing, kevin. 🙂
I'm so glad you like them. I think the whole country loves hot cross buns!
Wow – what a great idea, and just a little bit different. Looking forward to trying them out.
Thanks Craig. If you try them, please do take a pic and share it with me. I'd love to see.
Love this idea, it is so original and perfect for Easter!
Thanks Lucy! I like to think of it as original, but googling has shown me that others have made them before me… Well, it was my own idea so it is original in my head at least!
Thanks for the link Kevin – put it up on my page today for other people to enjoy – what a great idea.
These look so delicious Kevin, what a fab idea for a scone:-)
I love these so much. Such a brilliant idea x