Dinner

Hot Cross Bagels Recipe

Byluca Carter December 26, 2025December 26, 2025

Introduction

These Hot Cross Bagels are a delightful twist on traditional hot cross buns, combining warm spices with chewy bagel texture in just 30 minutes. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or a tasty snack, they’re easy to make and bursting with flavor thanks to cinnamon, mixed spice, and sweet sultanas.

Four round hot cross buns sit on a flat white marbled surface. Each bun has a shiny, deep brown crust with a light beige cross on top, creating a clear division into four sections. The buns have a slightly glossy texture with small dark spots from raisins or currants and appear soft and fresh. The light crosses are smooth and slightly raised, contrasting with the darker shiny crust around them. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 ½ cups wholemeal self-raising flour (plus some extra)
1 cup Greek yoghurt

¼ cup sultanas
1 tbsp coconut sugar

1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice

Pinch of sea salt
¼ cup plain flour
4 tbsp water

2 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F).
Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together the wholemeal self-raising flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, coconut sugar, sultanas, and sea salt until well combined.

Step 3: Add the Greek yoghurt and stir with a spoon to form a dough.
Step 4: Lightly flour your work surface and transfer the dough onto it. Knead gently for about 5 minutes, adding extra flour if the dough is too sticky. The dough should be slightly tacky but not stick to your fingers.
Step 5: Shape the dough into a ball and divide it into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a thick rope and join the ends to form a bagel shape.

Step 6: To make the cross, whisk the plain flour and water together in a small bowl until you get a thick paste. Adjust by adding more water or flour if needed.
Step 7: Spoon the flour paste into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with a small hole cut in one corner and pipe a cross over the top of each bagel.
Step 8: Place the bagels on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake on the top rack for 20-25 minutes until deep golden brown.

Step 9: Warm the honey or maple syrup until runny and brush it over the bagels. Let them cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
Step 10: Slice the bagels in half, spread with butter if desired, and enjoy your warm, spiced treat!

Tips & Variations

Use maple syrup as a vegan alternative to honey for glazing the bagels.

Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the dough for extra crunch.
If you prefer a softer texture, substitute half the wholemeal flour with plain flour.
Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar on top before baking for a sweeter crust.

Storage

Store the bagels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep them longer, freeze cooled bagels in a sealed bag for up to 1 month. Reheat gently in a toaster or oven until warmed through for the best texture.

How to Serve

Four soft, shiny hot cross buns are placed on a white marbled surface in a square shape. Each bun has a thick, glossy brown outer layer with a slightly textured surface, topped with a smooth pale beige cross made from dough or icing that is slightly raised. The buns have a hole in the middle like a doughnut, and some small dark spots of raisins or currants are visible in the brown dough. The rich shine on the buns suggests a sticky glaze covering them evenly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of self-raising flour?

Yes, but you will need to add baking powder (about 1 ½ teaspoons per cup of plain flour) to help the bagels rise properly.

How do I make the cross more visible?

Make sure the flour paste is thick enough to pipe clearly, and pipe the crosses neatly before baking. You can also use a small piping tip or carefully cut the ziplock bag corner for better control.