Sweeten Your Easter with Mānuka Honey Glazed Hot Cross Buns 🍯🌸

Easter just got a whole lot tastier! 🐣 If you love that warm, spiced, fresh-from-the-oven kind of comfort, you need to try this fun twist on a classic: Hot Cross Buns with a golden Mānuka honey glaze.

Made with premium New Zealand Mānuka Honey from Kai Ora, these buns are soft, fluffy, and perfectly sweet—with a sticky glaze that adds just the right touch of natural goodness.

Whether you’re baking for brunch, gifting a homemade treat, or just vibing in the kitchen with the whānau, this recipe is an easy win for your Easter table.

Why Mānuka Honey?

Not your average sweetener—Mānuka honey is a superfood known for its antioxidants, natural antibacterial properties, and rich, earthy flavor. Sourced straight from New Zealand’s native Mānuka bush, it brings next-level taste and wellness to your baking.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Buns:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 tbsp instant yeast

• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 1/4 cups warm milk

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup butter (softened)

• 3/4 cup currants or raisins

For the Crosses:

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/3 cup water

For the Glaze:

• 2 tbsp Kai Ora Mānuka Honey

• 1 tbsp warm water

Let’s Bake! 👩🍳👨🍳

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, yeast, spices, and salt.

2. Add warm milk, egg, and softened butter. Mix until a dough forms.

3. Knead in the dried fruit, then cover and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).

4. Divide dough into 12 buns. Place on a lined tray and let rise again (30 mins).

5. Mix flour and water to make a paste for the crosses. Pipe onto each bun.

6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes or until golden.

7. Mix Kai Ora Mānuka Honey with warm water and brush generously over hot buns.

That’s it! Soft, sticky, spiced perfection. 🌟

✨ Pro Tip:

Warm these up the next day and slather with butter (or even better—add a drizzle of Mānuka honey for double the goodness). You’re welcome. 😉

Stock Up on Mānuka Magic 🍯

Make sure you're baking with the best—grab your jar of Kai Ora Mānuka Honey today. It’s 100% pure, raw, and straight from the pristine forests of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

🎉 Limited-time 2025 Easter Sale – 25% OFF sitewide!
Use code EASTER25 at checkout. Ends Monday!

🛒 SHOP NOW

✖️ Creating the Classic Crosses

In a small bowl, mix the flour and water until you get a smooth, slightly thick paste. It should be runny enough to pipe, but thick enough to hold its shape. Transfer the paste into a piping bag fitted with a 3mm round nozzle—or simply use a ziplock bag and snip off a tiny corner to DIY it.

Gently remove the cling film from your risen buns and carefully pipe the paste to form crosses across the tops—first one direction, then the other. No rush here—go slow for that clean, classic look!

🔥 Time to Bake

Pop your tray into a preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and your kitchen smells like heaven.

As soon as they’re out of the oven, brush the buns with warm Kai Ora Mānuka Honey for that glossy, golden finish. Carefully lift them out of the tin and onto a wire rack to cool.

Serve warm, and enjoy every soft, sweet, spiced bite! ✨