Background

I can clearly remember the aroma of freshly baked hot cross buns filling the air, as my granny kneaded the dough on the kitchen table. The scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice combined with the warm, yeasty fragrance of the dough rising in the oven. As I sat under the table, watching granny work her magic, I couldn't resist the urge to lick the bowl that she has just used to mix the dough. The taste of the sweet, sticky mixture on my tongue was irresistible, and I relished every moment of it.
Finally, the buns were ready, and granny took them out of the oven, piping hot and smelling divine. She carefully brushed them with glaze, and the cross on top stands out in stark relief against the golden-brown surface of the bun.
Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter pastry, and making them at home can be a fun family activity, everyone enjoying the aroma of the warm spices filling her home.. The process of making hot cross buns typically involves mixing flour, yeast, sugar, spices, and dried fruit, and letting the dough rise before shaping it into buns and baking them in the oven.  Serving the buns fresh from the oven with a bit of butter or jam can be a delicious treat and a lovely way to celebrate the Easter holiday.
I thought I'd try a different way of making hot cross buns this year so I combined my normal bread machine recipe with one for Chelsea buns - resulting in these rather delicious Hot Cross Chelsea Buns!
Instead of using the automatic dispenser in the bread machine to put in the spiced fruit mixture I thought I would use this method so that people who were making the dough by hand could try it out as well.
I also tried different spiced fruits, this time using dried cherries and ground almonds, but of course you can use the normal mixed dried fruits if you prefer.