‘Hot cross bun’ truffles
on Apr 02, 2015, Updated Aug 25, 2022
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There is nothing that shouts ‘It’s Easter!’ over here in the UK more than freshly baked hot cross buns. But if, like me, you’re ‘hot cross bun-making challenged’, it might be better to stick to making these hot cross bun spiced chocolate truffles instead!
I didn’t know I was ‘hot cross bun-making challenged’ until I tried making some hot cross buns for the very first time last week.
If you don’t know what a hot cross bun is (seems inconceivable as they’re so ubiquitous over here, but I get that they’re a British thing!) it’s a spiced sticky bun with a cross piped across the top as a symbol of Easter. Bakeries and supermarkets sell truckloads of them and not surprisingly …. they’re really hard to beat when toasted and slathered with butter or jam.
They’re not a particularly complex thing – just a sort of cross between a bread roll and a cake, really – so I was rather surprised, and a bit upset, to make a total hash of my first attempt at making hot cross buns. It probably didn’t help that I was trying to be fancy by making an orange and chocolate spiced version. Obviously I shouldn’t have skipped the ‘baby steps’ that are probably necessary when you aren’t exactly the most experienced bread-baker in the world (ahem … maybe close to the least experienced?)
I think my mistake might have been making the dough in my bread machine and allowing the chocolate to melt into it as it was kneaded rather than folding it in at the end. And/Or not letting my dough rise enough? Whatever my problem was (probably problems – plural), the result was … hello misshapen, lead-weighted buns! They did NOT rise enough and tasted more like a heavy cake than a light and airy bun. I should have given them another whirl but, quite honestly, after spending pretty much the whole of Sunday sweating over them in the kitchen, I just couldn’t face it.
And so were born these ‘hot cross bun’ truffles! My reasoning was that the other very popular Easter treat is chocolate, of course, and there’s something I have a whole lot more experience of. Predictably, these truffles turned out a lot better … and I even managed to successfully pipe on the crosses. Aren’t you impressed? 😉
The truffles are nothing more than a mixture of biscuit crumbs, melted chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, mixed spice (to get the authentic hot cross bun flavour), cashew nuts and dried fruit – I used raisins and chopped dried apricots. Simply mix everything together, roll into small truffles, then dip into more melted chocolate before piping on some white chocolate crosses.
Be prepared for very messy hands while rolling and dipping, but it’s worth it. The finished truffles taste quite a bit like chocolate fridge cake – or perhaps a fruit and nut fudge – and doesn’t everyone love both of those? I’m pretty sure these would go down beautifully with coffee to finish off your Easter table this year!
'Hot cross bun' truffles
Ingredients
for the truffle mixture
- 3.5 ounces biscuits/cookies, I used Digestive biscuits
- 1/3 cup unsalted cashew nuts, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1/2 cup dried fruit, I used raisins & chopped dried apricots
- 7 ounces milk or dark chocolate, melted (see notes)
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
for the coating
- 7 ounces milk chocolate, melted
- 2.5 ounces white chocolate, for the piped crosses
Instructions
- Crumble the biscuits/cookies into a large bowl, then add the nuts, spice, fruit, melted chocolate and condensed milk. Mix well and leave to firm up in the fridge for a short while (about 10 minutes).
- Use a teaspoon or your hands to form the mixture into small balls. Place on a plate or baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Melt the chocolate for the coating, then dip the truffles into it. Put back on the baking sheet/plate and wait for the chocolate to set.
- Melt the white chocolate, then pour or spoon it into a piping bag or into the corner of a clear plastic food bag. Snip the very end of the bag off and quickly pipe little crosses onto each truffle. Let set … then enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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These definitely look like a yummy and cute Easter treat!
Thanks so much, Pam .. Happy Easter to you and your cute moggies!
This is such a creative, fun idea, Helen! I’ve never made hot crossed buns, but these would be a much easier place to start! haha Pinned.
Thank you, Marcie! I might give the buns another go some time, but for now I’m happy with these. Happy Easter!
I was wondering why everyone was making Hot Crossed Buns! Did not know that it was a big Easter tradition in the UK! These look awesome Helen 🙂 Pinning!
Ahhh … that has answered a question for me … I wasn’t sure whether you guys knew of hot cross buns in the US or not! Glad you like them, Mila … and thanks so much for pinning!
I love these, what a great idea. I love the use of the digestives. I made hot cross buns last year for the blog, they were lovely, but I didn’t make any this year. Have a great Easter weekend.
I will have to check out your hot cross bun recipe and try that one next Easter, Janette!
Helen, these truffles are so creative! I love the hot cross bun take on these. Looks so perfect and so delicious!
Thank you so much, Gayle. I needed something quick and easy so that I wasn’t totally ignoring Easter around here! 🙂
On a eu la même idée à nouveau Helen 😉 Mais les tiennes sont époustouflants ! Je crois que je veux te piquer la recette ! C’est la première fois que je vois des truffes Hot Cross, je suis très impressionnée 😉
Joyeux Pâques Helen ! x
Ahhh, j’ai tres envie de voir ce que tu as fait sur ton blog aujourd’hui, Eva! 😉
J’espere que tu piques la recette … quel compliment!
Every time I hear or see hot cross buns, I can’t help but think of the childhood song with namesake. So I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, that I’ve never actually had hot cross buns! I looks like I’ll have to change that – these look fantastic!
Ooh nooo, now I have that song stuck in my head, Kathleen! lol!
You really must try a hot cross bun … Janette has a great recipe for them on her blog!
I want to crawl through the screen and eat the entire tray of truffles with the melted chocolate…these look divine! Truffles are where it’s at!
Oooh, I totally agree, Annie … life, and especially Easter, is all about chocolate!
Such a clever idea for the truffles and just in time as I have been on such a chocolate binge. Anyway I have had my share of “things not turning out right”, sometimes it’s best to walk away. Take care!
Totally agree that you can ‘walk away’ from food disasters sometimes, Cheri!
Glad you like the truffle and … Happy Easter!
I made some a few years ago and they also came out horrible! I should have gone the truffle route that you did!
Haha … glad it’s not just me that’s hot cross bun-making challenged!