Nutella Hot Cross Buns? How outrageous! No way, these light and fluffy, super spiced buns with dark chocolate chunks and a gooey Nutella centre will blow your mind. Try them at least once and tell me what you think….I already know what you will say.
E hoa mā (friends), wait until you try these Nutella Hot Cross Buns. All Hot Cross Buns are superior when made from scratch and are eaten warm from the oven. I already have an Overnight Hot Cross Bun Recipe that is in my Whānaukai Cookbook. However, spice them in a similar way to these with chopped tiakarete parauri (dark chocolate) and flavours of ārani (orange).
This version is a shout out to my tamariki (children). They are allowed to eat Nutella in the holidays only and Easter is one of those times (yes, I am one of those mother’s). We start with a super spiced bun and give it a pop of depth with tiakarete parauri (dark chocolate) and then we fill it gooey Nutella. Let’s take a look at what is involved.
A breakdown of the Nutella Hot Cross Buns:
Start this recipe by combining miraka (milk aromahana), wai wera (hot water) and huka (sugar) with īhi (yeast). Once activated, add all of the dry ingredients, hēki (eggs) and pata (butter) and stir until it comes together. Knead the dough until it is smooth and stretchy and then leave it rise for 1 ½ hours.
Once the dough has doubled in size, tip it on to a bench and cut in to 12 equal pieces. Taking a piece of dough, gently press it out and place the Nutella in the centre. Pull in the corners and pinch the seams together. Flip it over and gently shape the dough in to a round shape. Place it on to the tray. Continue this pattern with all 12 pieces. Once all the buns are in the tray, cover them and rise them again until fluffy. Add the rīpeka (crosses) and bake them until golden. Finally smother them with a simple glaze that brightens the dough and makes them extra special.
Not a Nutella fan? No worries at all, why not try the Biscoff version of this recipe? It is such a fantastic time and if not my Spiced Hot Cross Buns might be more up your alley.
Videography and photography by Sarah Henderson.
Hot Cross Buns with a Gooey Nutella Centre – Rohi Rīpeka me te Nutella
Ingredients
The Spiced Dough – Te Pokenga Raukikini
- ¾ C + 1 tbsp (200) ml wai wera (hot water, from the tap)
- ¾ C + 2 tbsp (215) ml miraka aromahana (lukewarm milk)
- ½ C (100 g) huka hāura (brown sugar, tightly packed)
- 1 tbsp + ¼ tsp (12 g) īhi horo (instant yeast)
- 4 ⅓ C (650 g) puehu parāoa kounga (high grade flour)
- 1 hēki (size 7)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) wanira
- 2 tsp raukikini katoa (allspice)
- 1 heaped tbsp rau kikini whakauruuru (mixed spice)
- 1 tbsp hinamona kuoro (ground cinnamon)
- 1 ½ tsp tote (salt, fine)
- 80 g pata kūteretere (softened butter)
- 400 g Nutella (chilled, keep in the fridge until needed)
The Crosses – Ngā Rīpeka
- ⅓ C (50 g) puehu parāoa kounga (high grade flour)
- 1 tbsp huka (sugar, of any kind)
- 1 tsp pēkana paura (baking powder)
- 2 ½ tbsp (35 ml) wai (water)
The Glaze – Te Mōhinuhinu
- 30 g pata (butter)
- ¼ C marahihi māpere (maple syrup). This can be replaced with 3 tbsp of honey or apricot jam.
Instructions
The Spiced Dough – Te Pokenga Raukikini
- Add the lukewarm miraka (milk aromahana), wai wera (hot water) and huka (sugar) in to a large bowl. Stir it well until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the īhi horo (instant yeast) and mix it in well. Leave it for 5 minutes or so to activate. The īhi (yeast) will rise to the top when it is ready.
- Add the puehu parāoa (flour), hēki (eggs), iho hūperei (vanilla), raukikini katoa (allspice), raukikini whakauruuru (mixed spice), hinamona (cinnamon), tote (salt) and pata (butter) in to the yeast mixture. Stir it with a knife until a rough dough comes together.
Kneading The Dough – Te Pokepoke Parāoa
- Once the dough is roughly incorporated, it is time to knead the dough. If you are using a mixer, place the dough in the mixing bowl. Using a dough hook, knead for 10 minutes on low-medium speed. If you are kneading by hand, add the dough to a lightly floured bench or table. Knead the dough with the palms of your hands (not with your fingers) for 12-14 minutes. Try not to add any extra flour when you are kneading.
- Once the dough has reached the window pane test (see the video for reference), it is ready for the tiakarete (chocolate).
- Chop the tiakarete (chocolate) in to small chunks. Stretch the dough out to a rough rectangle. Sprinkle over the tiakarete (chocolate), fold it in from the edges and knead it until it is distributed well.
- Manipulate the dough in to a ball and add to a large, clean bowl. Cover with a tea towel. Rise for 1 ½ hours.
Making the Buns – Te Mahi Rohi Parāoa
- Line a 25cm x 35cm tray with baking paper. Note: Try not to use a tray any bigger than this as this this size tray helps the buns rise close together, creating softer buns. Trust me, it makes a difference.
- Once the dough has doubled in size tip it on to a bench and cut in to 12 equal pieces. You can use a scale for accuracy here or you can eye ball it (which is what I often do).
- Take the jar of chilled Nutella and divide it in to 12 equal spoonful's. I use about 85% of the jar, you can use less if you want.
- Note: Watch the video for assistance on how to create the buns. Notice I don't handle the dough too much or knead it again after it has risen. Taking a piece of dough, gently press it out and place the Nutella in the centre. Pull in the corners and pinch the seams together. Flip it over and gently shape the dough in to a round shape. Place it on to the tray. Continue this pattern with all 12 pieces.
- Once all the buns are in the tray, cover them with a tea towel. Rise for 55 minutes to an hour on the bench.
- 15 minutes before the rising time is up, make the rīpeka (crosses).
The Crosses – Ngā Rīpeka
- Before making the crosses, pre-heat the oven to 170 °C.
- Add puehu parāoa (flour), huka (sugar), pēkana paura (baking powder) and wai (water) in to a small bowl. Whakaranuhia – mix to combine.
- Add the mixture to a piping bag and pipe the crosses on to the risen buns. Once the rising time is up, slide them in to the oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes and then check if they are cooked. If the buns spring back when pressed on the underside of the buns, they are ready. If they stay pressed in, bake for five more minutes. As they bake prepare the simple mōhinuhinu (glaze).
The Glaze – Te Mōhinuhinu
- Gently melt the pata (butter) and stir through the marahihi māpere (maple syrup). Remove the baked buns from the oven and brush the mōhinuhinu (glaze) all over.
- Return the rohi (buns) to the oven, turn the oven off and leave them for an extra five minutes, this helps the glaze go a little sticky. Now they are ready to eat.
- These are always going to be best eaten fresh from the oven. However, they can be stored in a plastic bag or container on the bench overnight. Slice them and toast them the next day or warm them in the microwave for 10 seconds.
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